Massive JACKPOT for Bangladesh, discovers 20000 years old treasure trapped beneath…, could provide lifeline for millions of people

Bangladesh has been facing many serious problems, including religious tensions, political unrest, floods, droughts, and a shortage of clean drinking water. For people living in coastal areas, the situation is even worse because the groundwater there has become salty and unsafe to drink. Now, according to media reports, scientists say there is some good news. Researchers have found a huge source of fresh water deep underground along Bangladesh’s coast. This water has been trapped beneath the earth for thousands of years and could help millions of people get safe drinking water for the first time.

What did scientists find beneath Bangladesh?

Scientists have found a huge reserve of clean freshwater deep underground in coastal Bangladesh. The discovery was made near the Ganga–Brahmaputra delta, close to the Pusur River, by researchers from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia Climate School.

The freshwater lies hundreds of metres below the ground, safely trapped under layers of salty groundwater. This is important because much of coastal Bangladesh has salty or arsenic-polluted water, and around 41 per cent of people still do not have safe drinking water. The finding could help change that. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.

How did scientists find the water?

The team used a special underground scanning method called magnetotelluric sensing. This method measures how electricity moves through the ground. Since freshwater conducts electricity less than salty water, scientists were able to clearly map where fresh and salty water were located—without drilling first.

How did this freshwater get there?

Around 20,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, sea levels were much lower and the land was dry. Rain and floods filled underground spaces with freshwater. Later, rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra deposited thick layers of mud on top, which acted like a natural seal. When sea levels rose and seawater flooded the area, the freshwater stayed trapped and protected underground.

Over many years, Ganga and Brahmaputra deposited thick layers of fine mud on top of these aquifers. This mud worked like a natural cover, sealing the water below. When sea levels later rose and salty seawater spread over the region, the freshwater underneath stayed trapped and protected, remaining unchanged for thousands of years.

How large is the water reserve?

• Northern reservoir: about 800 metres deep and around 40 km long
• Southern reservoir: about 250 metres deep, also around 40 km long

Together, they may hold nearly 10 billion cubic metres of water—roughly equal to 4 million Olympic-size swimming pools. This freshwater could provide a lifeline for millions of people in coastal Bangladesh who currently depend on unsafe water sources.

Is the water safe to use?

Scientists say the water can be used, but with great care. If too much water is pumped out too quickly, salty water from above could seep down and mix with the freshwater, making it unusable. They say there is a need for careful and controlled water use. Pumping must be slow and well-planned so the supply lasts a long time. They also warn that, over thousands of years, natural processes could slowly increase salt levels, so smart and sustainable water management is very important.