Fate of the Earth: Our Waters Symposium

Thu, March 20, 2025 at Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

MSU Sociology Assistant Professor Saleh Ahmed will present at this year's Fate of the Earth: Our Waters Symposium

 

Could cultural perceptions of communal water management among ethnic minorities be the solution in water-insecure coastal Bangladesh? A qualitative inquiry

1:15PM  Oral Presentation  
Authors: Saleh Ahmed
Presenting Author: Saleh Ahmed

Coastal Bangladesh is at the frontline of global environmental change. Millions of people in the region are heavily exposed to various water-related risks, including tropical cyclones, sea level rise, salinity intrusion, and coastal flooding. Due to salinity intrusion, poor infrastructure, and connectivity issues, and other factors people in the region experience significant water insecurity. Often people need to travel several miles to collect drinkable water. Private entrepreneurs may provide water at a high price, but this creates additional challenges for the low-income people. Overall, water insecurity disproportionately affects women, children, and elderly populations. In this context, cultural perceptions and practices of communal water management among ethnic minorities can provide important insights for locally led solutions. For the Rakhine ethnic minorities, who have lived in Coastal Bangladesh for centuries, water is a sacred commodity. Communal ponds are not usually used for washing clothes or dishes, which is common in rural Bangladesh. The Rakhine reserves their pond’s water for drinking, particularly in the dry season, when usually groundwater salinity is very high and the water level in their water pumps is very low. The Rakhine see water is a heavenly blessing, and that is why they don’t want to make their pond impure by using them for their daily household chores. On the contrary, Bengalis, who are local mainstream populations, use their homestead or communal ponds for their daily household tasks, including swimming, bathing, cleaning their livestock, and washing their dishes and cloths. These ponds become very polluted and often carry water-borne and skin-related diseases. Based on a long-term qualitative inquiry in the region, this presentation highlights that Rakhine ethnic minorities have developed their own water security, while local majority Bengalis lack that opportunity. Because of these differences of cultural perceptions and use of communal water, it is not uncommon that conflict occurs between both groups. In context of regional water insecurity, local people and government should explore more options for locally led adaptations and create opportunities for collaboration on communal water management. It is clear that local Rakhine minorities can provide important insights on addressing water insecurity in the region. As regions around the world are experiencing increasing water insecurity, this research can provide important insights on how culture norms and values can play an important role in shaping local water management as well as adaptation efforts.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Saleh Ahmed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Michigan State University. As an interdisciplinary environmental social scientist, Dr. Ahmed’s research interest lies at the intersection of environment, development, and social justice.