The Legal Status of River Rights in Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis of River Personhood and Rights-Based Approach

Abstract

The study examines how acknowledging the rights of rivers could revolutionize environmental management in Bangladesh by adopting a rights-based framework that confers legal rights to rivers, which are both central to the nation's identity and a source of ecological challenges, thereby promoting sustainable development and preserving vulnerable ecosystems. The article identifies significant deficiencies in Bangladesh's environmental law by contrasting it with international standards, such as New Zealand's Whanganui River laws, and examining the domestic legal framework. The research utilizes qualitative doctrinal analysis and case study reviews to propose a novel legal framework that enhances the rights of rivers as living entities, situated within the realms of social justice, local customs, culture, and community-based management. It is imperative that we implement a rights-based strategy to address decades of mismanagement, social inequity, and resultant ecological degradation, thereby facilitating a just and sustainable future in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the framework fosters adaptive management, catalyzing progressive legal reforms and promoting active local participation.

Keywords

• River Rights
• Environmental Law
• Bangladesh
• Legal Personality
• Rights-Based Approach

How to cite

Joydeep Chowdhury, Muhammad Ali, Sunzida Akhter (2025). The Legal Status of River Rights in Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis of River Personhood and Rights-Based Approach. Sonargaon University Journal, 5(II), 29–41.

@article{chowdhury20253,
  title   = {The Legal Status of River Rights in Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis of River Personhood and Rights-Based Approach},
  author  = {Joydeep Chowdhury and Muhammad Ali and Sunzida Akhter},
  journal = {Sonargaon University Journal},
  volume  = {5},
  number  = {II},
  pages   = {29--41},
  year    = {2025},
  issn    = {2518-3125},
  url     = {https://su.edu.bd/journal/volume-5-issue-2/the-legal-status-of-river-rights-in-bangladesh-a-comparative-analysis-of-river}
}