Waterkeepers Bangladesh (WKB) serves as the regional entity of Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA), the world’s fastest-growing international network of water advocates. Headquartered in New York, WKA has over 290 members globally, all working to protect and restore water bodies. In Bangladesh, WKB oversees the operations of four Waterkeeper members, all of which are administered by the Blue Planet Initiative (BPI), a not-for-profit social organization based in Dhaka.
The journey of Waterkeepers Bangladesh began in 2009 with the establishment of Buriganga Riverkeeper, the country’s first member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. This initiative set the foundation for a broader movement to protect Bangladesh’s rivers from pollution, encroachment, and environmental degradation.
Building on this momentum, Khowai River Waterkeeper and Surma River Waterkeeper were approved as WKA members in 2014, further strengthening efforts to safeguard Bangladesh’s vital water resources. Recognizing the need for a more structured and unified approach, Waterkeepers Bangladesh (WKB) was formally declared in 2015, bringing all WKA members in Bangladesh under one coordinated framework.
The movement continued to expand when Pashur River Waterkeeper gained membership in 2016, playing a crucial role in advocating for the protection of rivers in the Sundarbans region. That same year, Voice of the Old Brahmaputra River was granted affiliate membership, further broadening the impact of Waterkeepers Bangladesh in addressing water governance issues across the country.
Today, WKB remains committed to protecting Bangladesh’s rivers and water bodies through advocacy, enforcement, and community-driven solutions.