Moulvibazar Correspondent :
The water bodies and rivers of Moulvibazar district, which are rich in haors, baors, canals, beels, and rivers, are losing their navigability due to silting. The Manu River, which flows through three upazilas including Kulaura in Moulvibazar district, is the main river of the area.
Originating from upstream India, the Manu River flows through Kulaura, starting from Sharifpur, and merges with the Kushiyara River in the Manumukh area of Moulvibazar, covering a length of 74 kilometers.
The river is losing its navigability due to two consecutive severe floods in 2022 and 2024 and a long lack of dredging. Sediment carried by the floods has caused extensive damage to residential houses, agricultural lands, and crops.
Repeated floods have deposited silt from upstream India, reducing the river’s depth and forming chars at various locations. During the rainy season, the excessive water flow causes embankments to collapse, triggering floods.
In addition, the lack of dredging has decreased domestic fish production, causing various losses for local residents, including farmers.
Consequently, people from several unions in the southern region are demanding the dredging of the river.
A visit to the river shows that large chars have emerged at several locations, including Prithimpasa on the banks of the Manu River, Dhalia, Sukhnavi, Rajapur, Katarkona, Ismailpur, Ronchap, and Nishchintapur in Hajipur and Sharifpur unions.
Due to these chars, 300 feet of erosion occurred in the Shikaria area of the embankment during the last monsoon.
The 2022 and 2024 floods also caused extensive damage to Kulaura Upazila in the Miyarpara, Sondrabaj, and Shalon areas due to river erosion.
Local farmers, including Tanbir Ahmed, Taju Mia, Mubarak Ali, Ismail Ali, Abbas Ali, and Farid Ahmed, report that the Manu River has filled with silt. Because of the long-term lack of dredging, the river floods during the monsoon.
Rising water levels damage agricultural lands and crops. They add that the river, once abundant with native fish, has seen a decline in production due to silt filling the deep end.
Fish are no longer caught in nets as before. Locals urge authorities to pay proper attention to dredging the river.
Fishermen Rubel Ali of Rajapur Kheyaghat and Harun Mia of Dhalia Ghat say the river is no longer as deep as before. Sediment accumulation has reduced the river’s depth, making it difficult to propel boats.
During the dry season, locals cross the river using bamboo bridges or on foot. During the rainy season, shallow depths cause water to overflow embankments.
Senior Fisheries Officer of Kulaura Upazila Abu Masud says that due to silt deposits, the water retention capacity of the Manu River, Fanai River, and Hakaluki Haor is decreasing every year.
This has also reduced domestic fish production. Proposals for dredging the Katarkona Bridge area, Fanai River, and Kangli Beel section of Hakaluki Haor have been submitted to the Fisheries Department.
Moulvibazar Water Development Board Executive Engineer Khaled Bin Walid says that previously accumulated silt in some areas of the Manu River has been removed.
Proposals will be sent to higher authorities for dredging the newly formed chars following the last two floods. Kulaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mohiuddin adds that the accumulated silt will be removed, and the embankment will be repaired.
