The potential impacts of climate change and socio-economic change on flow and water quality in rivers worldwide is a key area of interest. The Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) is one of the largest river basins in the world serving a population of over 650 million, and is of vital concern to India and Bangladesh as it provides fresh water for people, agriculture, industry, conservation and for the delta system downstream.
In contrast, the socio-economic changes had relatively little impact on flows, except under the low flow regimes where increased irrigation could further reduce water availability. However, should large scale water transfers upstream of Bangladesh be constructed, these have the potential to reduce flows and divert water away from the delta region depending on the volume and timing of the transfers. This could have significant implications for the delta in terms of saline intrusion, water supply, agriculture and maintaining crucial ecosystems such as the mangrove forests, with serious implications for people's livelihoods in the area. The socio-economic scenarios have a significant impact on water quality, altering nutrient fluxes being transported into the delta region.

Floating Home

People who migrated from Jamalpur city to Mymensingh took shelter in the Brahmaputra river basin

Waiting

Two women and dog displaced by floods in the Brahmaputra River wait for a boat to take them home

Vegetable Processing

People washing vegetables in the Brahmaputra River to sell at the market

Washing Clothes

People washing clothes in the Brahmaputra River

Catching Fish

Children sitting cover polythene on a rainy day eagerly awaiting the moment when a fish is caught in the electric net

Enjoy the drama

After catching fish in the Brahmaputra River fishermen relax and enjoy watching the dogs quarrel

Deadbody

A cow carcass floats next to a dredging machine pipe in the Brahmaputra River

Playing Game

Children playing with balloons next to a dredging machine in the Brahmaputra River

No

Children scavenge for plastic bags in the sand dumping areas of the Brahmaputra river

Where is my river

Due to the drought in the Brahmaputra river people are illegally collecting sand from the riverbed