Water resources management in seasonal wetlands of North-East Bangladesh

Bangladesh, the lowest riparian of the Ganges-Brahmaputra- Meghna basin, drains approximately 1.7 million square kilometer area with average annual runoff of approximately 175 billion cubic meter. Average Land elevation of the country is about 12.50 meter above mean sea level and it faces two extreme conditions : overabundence of surface runoff during wet season and scarcity during dry season. Overabundence of water during wet season creats flood situation on atmost one third of the country in a normal year while in extreme condition may rise upto two third (example 1988 & 1998 flood in Bangladesh). Flood situation creates seasonal wetland in low lying areas which during wet season turns into water bodies sustaining wetland acqutic flora and funa while during dry season the same is converted into agricultural land. Over population, as elsewhere in the Globe, and consequently, over exploration of natural resources, of this unique geological feature. The natural and traditional water management system of these seasonal wetland has been changed due to human interference which should be managed in a sustainable way for pressure these unique geological feature.