Authorities must increase water levels of Old Brahmaputra as it now runs dry in M’singh

In spite of ongoing dredging efforts that started in 2019, the Old Brahmaputra River has shown no signs of the anticipated increase in its water levels. Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), during a meeting held in May of the previous year, provided reassurance that the river would reach a water depth of 10 meters by June or July of the current year. However, the current situation presents a different narrative. Once a river with a width of 12-14 kilometers, the Old Brahmaputra has now diminished to a mere canal, a few hundred meters wide, with shallow water at various points in Mymensingh Sadar.

The continuous process of siltation and encroachment has pushed the 283-kilometer-long Old Brahmaputra, which is the longest river in the country, stretching from Dewanganj in Jamalpur to Meghna in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, towards the brink of disappearance. The Navigability Improvement and Excavation of Old Brahmaputra (2019) project, allocated a budget of approximately Tk 2,763 crore and aimed to address this issue, was initially scheduled to be completed by June 2024. However, due to a lack of monitoring, social accountability, and public involvement, no visible improvements have been observed.

According to sources from the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Mymensingh is home to around 47 rivers that rely on the Old Brahmaputra for their natural and uninterrupted flow. This river route was traditionally used for transporting agricultural produce, commuting passengers to Narayanganj, Manikganj, and Gazipur, as well as for fishing. Properly dredging the river would bring numerous benefits to over one crore of local inhabitants. Unfortunately, the authorities ignored suggestions for river dredging and misused all funds, leading to excessive siltation.

We must call the authority concerned to properly execute the project to live up our rivers. The climate change effects have already been visible and no one will respite from the wrath of nature. If we fail to protect our rivers, the country will be a desert very soon. So, there should be no compromise in river protection and its natural flow.