Staff Correspondent

Islamic Relief Bangladesh has launched the distribution of 717 rainwater harvesting tanks across the coastal upazilas of Shyamnagar in Satkhira and Koyra in Khulna to ease safe drinking water shortages driven by rising salinity levels.

The initiative is being carried out under the Strengthening Community Resilience through Locally Led Adaptation (ScaleLLA) project.

The distribution program officially commenced on Monday in coordination with local government authorities and relevant public agencies. By August 31, a total of 717 households—comprising 317 families in Shyamnagar and 400 families in Koyra—will receive the storage units.

Communities throughout the country's southwestern coastal belt face immense difficulties securing safe drinking water due to escalating freshwater salinity. Frequent cyclones, storm surges, flooding, and groundwater depletion have intensified saltwater intrusion. Consequently, residents, particularly women and children, often must travel extensive distances during dry periods to collect potable water.

This intervention aligns closely with broader national conversations surrounding safe drinking water access in salinity-prone districts, underscored by recent High Court directives addressing the crisis.

Local communities identified rainwater harvesting as a practical, sustainable mitigation measure. Under the current distribution drive, each beneficiary household is receiving a 2,000-liter storage tank. These units allow families to capture and preserve rainwater, satisfying their domestic drinking water requirements for up to 160 days during the dry season. The project aims to curtail reliance on high-salinity and compromised groundwater sources while simultaneously minimizing the prevalence of waterborne illnesses.

“The growing salinity crisis is making access to safe drinking water increasingly difficult for coastal communities. This initiative provides a practical and sustainable solution that helps families store safe water during the dry season. It also supports ongoing efforts to address the drinking water challenges highlighted by recent High Court directives concerning salinity-affected areas. Through locally led adaptation measures, we are helping communities build resilience to climate change,” said AM Nasir Uddin, Programme Manager of the CCA & DR Programme at Islamic Relief Bangladesh.

To ensure long-term sustainability and foster community ownership, participating households are actively contributing by constructing tank platforms and water collection layouts. Furthermore, implementing teams are providing technical assistance, installation and maintenance training, and routine monitoring to guarantee optimal system usage.

Operating in Bangladesh since 1991, Islamic Relief Bangladesh continues to support vulnerable populations through emergency response, poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and comprehensive climate resilience programs.