Vulnerability Enforced by the Teesta River Flow and Coping Strategies of Local Communities in Bangladesh

The sharing of Teesta water has long been a contentious issue between India and Bangladesh. The substantial flow of water during the monsoon season, coupled with considerable withdrawals in the dry season, has precipitated a range of socio-economic and environmental challenges. These challenges manifest as desertification, flooding, river erosion, and alterations in the social and economic landscape of Bangladesh. In this context, this study examines the socio-economic transformations occurring within the communities along the Teesta riverbank, in relation to the dynamics of its water flow. To this end, a qualitative approach, which included in-depth interviews, case study interviews, and key informant interviews, was followed. A few communities in Gangachora Upazila, Rangpur District, Bangladesh, were selected as the study sites. This study argues that the dynamics of water flow exert a significant influence on various social institutions, including family structures, marital practices, settlements, and social networks. The dissolution of joint families, the transition from clustered to dispersed settlements, the transformation of social networks into conflicts, and the persistence of child marriage have all emerged as consequences of the flow of the Teesta River. Nevertheless, the communities have exhibited remarkable ingenuity by embracing adaptive strategies, including migration, alterations to their livelihoods, and refinements in agricultural practices. Moreover, the appearance of new sandbars and dunes has led to new economic dynamics, utilising the new territories for farming and harnessing alternative crop production. The study contends that acknowledging and assessing these coping mechanisms, stemming from the varied livelihoods along the Teesta riverbank, is intrinsically linked to vulnerability. This necessitates a shift from conventional adaptation to local community-driven coping strategies.