Ownership of fresh water resources and the nature of social stratification: A case study of two villages in the southwestern coastal regions of Bangladesh

Freshwater is an essential resource for human survival, yet its unequal distribution often intensifies social and economic divisions. This study examines a new aspect of social stratification, investigating whether ownership of freshwater influences the social hierarchy in the coastal villages of Kodanda and Narayanpur in salinity-intruded and climate-vulnerable southern Bangladesh. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through 18 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 4 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and field observation notes recorded by researchers over a period of five months. The research identifies three types of water ownership in the study areas: i) privately owned, ii) shared, and iii) community-managed fresh water sources. An original contribution of this study to the literature is the finding that freshwater ownership plays a crucial role in creating a new paradigm shift in defining the stratification pattern among community members in saline-prone and climate-vulnerable areas of Bangladesh. Despite traditional stratification models, a new form has emerged where freshwater ownership segments the community based on higher social recognition, respect, authority, decision-making priorities, power, and control, resulting in a division of classes among those who own freshwater resources. The study highlights the urgent need for equitable water governance and improved local infrastructure to ensure equal access for everyone, regardless of class or status.