Installed in 2014 @ Kuakata of Patuakhali district in Bangladesh. Managed by Community and Water Activists.

1. Water Museum
It’s a first initiatives in South-Asia
Present by Shamsher Ali,
Water Museum, Bangladesh
Shamsher.Ali@watermuseum.net

2. Background
• Bangladesh is a riverine country of thousands river
• Within 40 years more then 100 rivers are died and thousands of
fisherfolk are jobless due to lack of water flows on major rivers.
• Thousands acres of arable land are non-productive; thousands
of farmers are jobless.
• Ground water around Ganga basin are went down.
• Reduced water way from 2400 km to 800 km
• Increasing salinity intrusion in south-west or coastal region and
mangrove forest are in threatened.
• Riverine community experiencing flood & river erosion during
monsoon and drought in winter or dry session.
• Pollution of water bodies by industries and sewerage lines
• Fisheries and agriculture production reduced and production
cost increased.
• Ultimately farmers, fishers, boatman and riverine community
loosing their livelihood and home.

3. Rivers of recent past

4. Objectives:
To create a sense of awareness
among the stakeholders
especially the policy makers and
also to create a strong basis for
policy advocacy on “Water
Commons” campaign
This Water Museum will act as a
call for actions to save the rivers
in Asia.
A call for
Rights of River & Right to River

5. Our call for actions
• Ratify UN Law on Non-Navigational use of Water Course 1997
• Include River-Basin management agenda in SAARC
• Set a regional River Commission instead of JRC
• Set Basin wise management Authority
• Enact a River Law considering supreme court order that River
is a living being.
• Free flows of river without contamination; remove all kinds of
obstructions.
• Industries to be shifted far from river
• Sewerage lines to be disconnect with river & Water bodies
• Increase forestation and stop deforestation.
• Increasing irrigation by surface water instead of ground water

6. Activities around Water Museum
• Display & open for visitors 6 days in a week.
• Learning space for students & academics.
• Sharing Community experience, idea
generation and taking actions.
• Learning sharing through conferences.
• Promoting activism on people agendas.
• Consensuses development.
• Policy advocacy.

7. Management
People organizations leaders; Local NGO; CSOs; Academics; and AAB

8. Exterior Design

9. Interior Design

10. List of Display
1. River related information, Maps, Publications, river treaties
2. A Sculpture of a boat on dead river at the yard of the museum
3. Water Samples of 90 Trans-boundary rivers
4. Photos of different rivers and its surrounding (present & extinct)
5. Different Handy Crafts, artefacts, potteries, etc
6. Photos of river centric lives.
7. Model of Andharmanik River and surrounding village
8. Different fishing and farming items
9. A list of water foot print.
10. Audio-visuals; documentaries, movies, songs, photos, etc.
11. Reading materials; books, reports, flyers, charter, declaration, etc.
12. Website: www.watermuseum.net and Facebook page.
13. Comments or visitors books.

11. Inside the Water Museum

13. Inauguration

14. Visitors and actions

20. International and National Conference

29. Next International Water Conference, 2020
January 24 – 25, 2020
Legalizing River Rights: People, Policies, and Practices
• People initiatives
• Policy reform
• Water Museum
• Educations
@ Water Museum, Kuakata, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

30. Please visit for details:
www.watermuseum.net
Water Museum on Facebook page
Thank you
?