It is concerning that though Bangladesh is branded as a riverine country; most of its rivers are in the process of dead or on deathbed.
According to a study report conducted by the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), at least 79 of the government-listed 1,156 rivers flowing through the country have dried up in recent times, threatening livelihoods, agriculture, and local biodiversity.
The study report published on Thursday based on various academic papers and newspaper reports revealed that all of these rivers are heavily silted and either completely or partially dry up during the lean period, mainly due to water diversion in the upstream.
Meanwhile, large portions of some rivers have disappeared in recent years due to encroachment.
It is to be noted that Bangladesh rivers originate from the Himalayan valleys traversing India, Nepal and Bhutan and have merged into the Bay of Bengal, flowing across the country.
The thousands of years of culture of the country’s area owe it to the surrounding rivers.
Major cities like Dhaka, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, Khulna, and Narayanganj have been built taking advantage of the rivers around them.
According to the study, of these rivers, 25 are in Khulna division, 19 in Rajshahi, 14 in Rangpur, six in Chattogram, five in Mymensingh, four in Dhaka, and three each in Barishal and Sylhet divisions, where sedimentation and rapid urbanisation have severely disrupted the natural flow of water.
As dams and water diversions in the upstream have altered the natural flow of rivers, millions of people are finding it increasingly difficult to fish, farm, and transport goods.
To protect rivers, we need to take better care by reducing pollution, preventing erosion, and restoring ecosystems.
But Bangladesh cannot solve this problem alone, since these rivers flow through multiple countries. So cooperation with upstream neighbours is essential.
For this, Bangladesh needs to be prepared to win “river diplomacy”. There are many trans-boundary rivers in Bangladesh, and most of the rivers enter through India.
India utilises its geographical advantages and the Indian River Commission is unilaterally building dams by the side of almost every river.
With our waterways being a key natural resource, crucial for the sustenance of our various ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people, we must ensure that we do everything not only to bring our dying rivers back to life, but to make them as important to our development plans as they once were.
