**5. Conclusions and recommendations**

The compass of this chapter is to understand the long-term hydro-climatic characteristics and evaluate the performance of MAR for achieving the sustainability in groundwater management. Our intent was not to cover all the aspects related to the sustainability of water resources management. However, the findings of the study will contribute to understanding the phenomena related to sustainable groundwater management in drought prone areas. Our study demonstrates that unplanned irrigation for the dry season rice production is the significant responsible factor for groundwater depletion. Moreover, climate-related factors, like decreasing trend in rainfall, distribution of rainfall (SI and PCI), frequent drought, are also related to the groundwater depletion. In the study area, the thick clay surface lithology, which is the barrier of groundwater recharge, is also an important factor for groundwater depletion. The study also demonstrates that water resources management also related to the transboundary river relationship. To achieve sustainability in groundwater resource management particularly in the study area, water resource managers need to consider several factors along with the factors mentioned. First, it is time to take decision about the land use patterns as rice, which cultivates in about 81% cultivable area during the dry season, is the highest water consuming crop in the area. Though it is the staple food in the country, it is necessary to reduce this crop cultivation to protect rapid depletion of groundwater resource. Moreover, water-saving irrigation techniques such alternate drying and wetting, raised bed techniques need to promote for farming. Surface water irrigation where and when it is available need to facilitate to minimize the stress on groundwater. The present study also indicates that groundwater recharge in some Upazilas increases due to create favorable recharge structures like re-excavation of rivers and *Kharis* (small channel). However, the effort is not quite enough for protecting groundwater depletion. As annual surplus water is higher than the net groundwater recharge, groundwater recharge favorable structures for rainwater harvesting need to develop. An experimental study on MAR shows the potentiality of the technique for ensuring drinking water supply especially in the rural areas. An IWRMP considering the driving forces of groundwater depletion, potentiality of surface water, and MAR and land use pattern of the area need to prepare and execute the plan accordingly for achieving the sustainability in water resources management.
