The policies acted upon has been undertaken on the basis of reports to the Government, but even these professional reports, on which so many projects were undertaken, are scarce and moth-eaten. This collection is based on the belief that the role for water in the macro-economy of Bangladesh should be decided with proper historical perspective. We should know how we got where we are if we wish to take stock and decide how to move to where we wish to go. The documents reproduced in this volume focus purely on twentieth century reports and studies. Even there, one finds a discontinuity in the literature prior to the independence of Bangladesh and that which came subsequently, particularly after 1988; there is a true explosion of interest. Fortunately, most of the later studies are actually available---- though not readily----but can be accessed with some effort. Therefore, we have limited this collection to the most influential studies undertaken prior to the independence of Bangladesh. It is our hope that the perspective provided by these historical documents will encourage more discussion and popular engagement in an issue of central importance to the people of Bangladesh generate interest around the role of water management in the future of Bangladesh. With the current environmental concerns that have propelled a sense of urgency regarding water resource management, this book will be a very relevant source of knowledge.