The mighty river Ganges, which begins in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, enters Bangladesh from the north west through Rajshahi Division. It joins the Brahmaputra in the centre of the country, north west of the capital, Dhaka. The Ganges changes it’s name to Padma as it passes into Bangladesh, while the main flow of Brahmaputra is known as Jamuna. It is these great rivers and their countless tributaries that have the most apparent effect on the landform – constant erosion and flooding over the alluvial plains change the course of rivers, landscape and agriculture. The Jamuna alone is estimated to carry down 900 million tons of silt each year
Rivers are the most important geographical features in Bangladesh, and it is the rivers that created the vast alluvial delta. It’s been known that the out flow of water from Bangladesh is the third highest in the world, after the Amazon and the Congo systems. The Padma, Jamuna and the lower Meghna are the widest rivers, with the latter expanding to around eight kilometers across in the wet season, and even more during the floods.
Bangladesh is proud of its vast rivers and therefore affectionately called ‘the Land of Rivers’ by its people. Every year they enrich the soil and make it more fertile. At the same time they also cause immense loss of lives and wealth when the devastating floods occurs.
The best way to see the real beauty of Bangladesh and its rivers is by taking a boat trip on the rivers. A trip from Dhaka to Khulna on board the famous Paddle Steamer through some big and small rivers gives you the opportunity to witness this unique beauty.
Atari river
Atrai River
Atrai River (also spelt as Atreyee) (Bengali: আত্রাই/আত্রেই নদী) flows in West Bengal and northern parts of Bangladesh.In ancient times the river was called Atrei and finds a mention in the Mahabharata. It is linked with Karatoya River. It originates in West Bengal and then after flowing through Dinajpur District of Bangladesh, it enters India again. It passes through Kumarganj and Balurghat community development blocks in Dakshin Dinajpur district. The river then renters Bangladesh. It splits into two rivers - the Gabura and the Kankra in Dinajpur district. It crosses the Barind Tract and flows into Chalan Beel. The river serves as a perennial source of fishing, even though it is often the cause of flooding in many areas during monsoons.
Total length of this river is approximately 240 miles (390 km). Maximum depth of river is 99 feet (30 m).
Bangali River
Country Bangladesh
Region Rajshahi Division
Source Teesta River
The Bangali River (Bengali: বাঙালি নদী) is one of the main rivers in the northern part of Bangladesh (commonly known as North Bengal). As of 2007, the river is in the news because of the possibility that it might merge with the Jamuna River, which could lead to major changes in the geography of the region.
Etymology
In the later part of the 18th century, movements against the British Raj erupted in North Bengal. Two of the major centers of the Fakir-Sanyasi Rebellion were Bogra District and Rangpur, located on two sides of the Bangali River. Whether this was the reason that prompted the name Bangali (the people of Bengal) is still unknown.
Geography
The Bangali River originates as a distributary of Teesta River in Nilphamari District. The river flows as the Ghaghot River from its source to Gaibandha, where it splits into two branches – one moves towards the west as the "Ghaghot" and empties into the Karatoya River at Sherpur, Bogra District; the other section of the Bangali River flows to the south and subsequently breaks into two sections in Bogra. These two sections join the Jamuna and Karatoa.
There are a number of distributaries of the Bangali River such as the Belal, Manosh, Modhukhali, Ichamoti, and Volka among others. These distributaries often dry up in the winter season.
Recently, with a gradual decrease in the flow of the Teesta River, the Jamuna has become the main source of water for the Bangali River. Some scientists, including former executive director of the River Research Institute, Abdul Wajed, consider the Jamuna to be the primary source of the river.
Similar to other rivers in the region, the Bangali undergoes several divisions and receives multiple tributaries. According to the Bogra District Gazetteer, the Bangali River flows through Sariakandi Upazila to the south east and reaches Chou-Ghata. Thereafter, at Jurigacha, it splits into two major branches. The western branch named Hal-Halia flows towards the south passing across Bogra, Sherpur and Dhunat Upazila. The eastern branch continues as the Bangali River through Dhunat Thana. At Bathuabari in Dhunat, the two branches meet again and the conjoined flow continues by the name of "Fuljhur", which turns towards the west near South Pantabari and arrives at a place called Kachari Kallyani. The name of the stream changes here to Khanpur Mohona which soon drains into the Karatoa. From there, the combined Bangali–Karatoa flows by Modhiabagh, Himabari and Sherpur.
History
The present-day streams of Jamuna and Teesta were created after a massive flood in 1787. The flood had a major impact on the geography of rivers in the region; several rivers changed course, and the changes continued for the next forty years. Prior to the flood, the Brahmaputra River used to pass through Mymensingh and Bhoirob Bazaar to meet the Meghna River. After 1787, the Brahmaputra changed its course to drain into the Padma River.
Along with changes in course, the Jamauna and Teesta also gave rise to new distributaries in the aftermath of the 1787 flood. It is speculated that the Bangali River was born out of those changes of course of the Jamuna and Teesta.
Concerns
Scientists are concerned about the current condition of the Bangali River. According to the "Pani Unnoyon Board" (Water Development Board), every year the Jamuna moves 80 m (262 ft) closer to the Bangali as a result of erosion of its banks. As of 2007, a stretch of only 300 m (984 ft) separates the two rivers, an alarming sign for the continued existence of the Bangali River. Engineers worry that if these two rivers merge, an area of 1,000 square kilometres and 9 m (30 ft) of Bogra and Sirajganj will be completely submerged under water. Water would destroy the Bogra–Nagarbari road and eventually cause the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna to be ineffective. It would increase annual flooding in the floodplain of Bangali River. Location: 24 50 41 N 89 50 41 E .
Jamuna River
The Jamuna River (Bangla: যমুনা Jomuna) is one of the three main rivers of Bangladesh. It is the main channel of the Brahmaputra River when it flows out of India into Bangladesh. The Jamuna flows south, ending its independent existence as it joins the Padma River (Pôdda) near Goalundo Ghat. Merged with the Padma (Pôdda), it meets the Meghna River near Chandpur. Its waters then flow into the Bay of Bengal as the Meghna River.
The river's average depth is 395 feet (120 m) and maximum depth is 1,088 feet (332 m).
The Jamuna was a barrier in establishing a direct road link between capital Dhaka and northern part of Bangladesh better known as Rajshahi Division until 1996. This was mitigated by the completion of the Jamuna Multi-Purpose Bridge.
River Meghna from the bridge over the river
Meghna River
The Meghna River (Bengali: মেঘনা নদী) is an important river in Bangladesh, one of the three that forms the Ganges Delta, the largest on earth fanning out to the Bay of Bengal. Being a part of the Surma-Meghna River System, Meghna is formed inside Bangladesh by the joining of different rivers originaing from the hilly regions of eastern India. The river meets Padma River in Chandpur District. The river ultimately flows into the Bay of Bengal in Bhola District.
The Meghna is the widest river among those that flow completely inside the boundaries of Bangladesh. At one point near Bhola, Meghna is 12 km wide. In its lower reaches this river follows almost a straight line in its path. Despite its very calm and quiet look, this river is the cause of many deaths every year. Several ferry sinkings in the past have killed hundreds, like the MV Salahuddin-2 and the MV Nasrin-1. Near Chandpur it is very dangerous.
The river's average depth is 1,012 feet (308 m) and maximum depth is 1,620 feet (490 m). In the origin of Hatiya and Bhola, the deepest point is the Meghna River Creek, it reaches 1,998 feet (609 m).
Course
The Meghna is a distributary of the great river Brahmaputra. The Meghna is formed inside Bangladesh by the joining of the Surma and Kushiyara rivers originating from the hilly regions of eastern India. Down to Chandpur, Meghna is hydrographically referred to as the Upper Meghna. After the Padma joins, it is referred to as the Lower Meghna.
Near Muladhuli in Barisal district, the Safipur River is an offshoot of the Surma that creates one of the main rivers in South Bengal. 1.5 km wide, this river is one of the widest in the country as well.
At Ghatalpur of Brahmanbaria District, the river Titas emerges from Meghna and after circling two large bends by 240 km, falls into the Meghna again near Nabinagar Upazila. Titas forms as a single stream but braids into two distinct streams which remain separate before re-joining the Meghna.
In Daudkandi, Comilla, Meghna is joined by the great river Gomoti, created by the combination of many streams. This river reinforces Meghna a lot and increases the waterflow considerably. The pair of bridges over Meghna and Gomoty are two of the country's largest bridges. The Dakatua River is also part of the river system in Comilla district.
Meghna is reinforced by the Dhaleshwari before Chandpur as well. The name for the largest distributary of the Ganges in Bangladesh is the Padma River. When the Padma joins with the Jamuna River, the largest distributary of the Brahmaputra, and they join with the Meghna in Chandpur District, the result in Bangladesh is called the Lower Meghna. When the brown and hazy water of the Padma mix with the clear water of the Upper Meghna, the two streams do not mix but flow in parallel down to the sea - making half of the river clear and the other half brown. This peculiarity of the river is always a great attraction for people.
After Chandpur, when the river has the combined flow of the Padma and Jamuna it moves down to the Bay of Bengal in an almost straight line. In her course from Chandpur to Bay of Bengal, the Meghna braids into a number of little rivers including the Pagli, Katalia, Dhonagoda, Matlab and Udhamodi. All of these rivers flow out from the Meghna and rejoin again at points downstream.
Near Bhola, just before flowing into the Bay of Bengal, the river divides into two main streams in the Ganges delta and separates an island from both sides of the mainland. The western stream is called Ilsha and the eastern one is called Bamni.
River Padma in Rainy Season
Padma River
The Padma (Bengali: পদ্মা Pôdda) is a major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges (Bengali: গঙ্গা Gôngga), which originates in the Himalaya. The Padma enters Bangladesh from India near Chapai Nababganj. It meets the Jamuna (Bengali: যমুনা Jomuna) near Aricha and retains its name, but finally meets with the Meghna (Bengali: মেঘনা) near Chandpur and adopts the name 'Meghna' before flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
Rajshahi, a major city in western Bangladesh, is situated on the north bank of the Padma. Its maximum depth is 1,571 feet (479 m) and average depth is 968 feet (295 m).
Course
Originated in the Gangotri Glacier of the Himalaya, the Ganges runs to the Bay of Bengal through India, entering Bangladesh at Shibganj in the district of Chapai Nababganj. Just west of Shibganj, the distributary Bhagirathi emerges and flows southwards as the Hooghly. After the point where the Bhagirathi branches off, the Ganges is officially referred to as the Padma and the river Bhagirathi uses the name of Ganga. Later the British started calling it the Hoogly river.
Further downstream, in Goalando, 2200 km away from the source, the Padma is joined by the mighty Jamuna (Lower Brahmaputra) and the resulting combination flows with the name Padma further east, to Chandpur. Here, the widest river in Bangladesh, the Meghna, joins the Padma, continuing as the Meghna almost in a straight line to the south, ending in the Bay of Bengal.
Mythology
The Padma (Sanskrit for lotus flower) is numerously mentioned in Hindu Mythology including the Vedas, the Puranas,the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.[citation needed] In all the epic stories, the river is mentioned as byname for the Goddess Lakshmi though the origin differs.
Damming
After building of Farakka Barrage on the upstream of the river in Indian West Bengal the capacity of the river was reduced significantly.
Bridge
A road-rail bridge is proposed in 2009.
Padma bridge is the largest bridge of Bangladesh(proposed).It will cost ৳3000 kuti to finish.It will be used in 2013.
River surma
Surma River
The Surma River (Bengali: সুরমা নদী Shurma Nodi) is a major river in Bangladesh, part of the Surma-Meghna River System. It starts when the Barak River from northeast India divides at the Bangladesh border into the Surma and the Kushiyara rivers. It ends in Kishoreganj District, above Bhairab Bazar, where the two rivers rejoin to form the Meghna River. The waters from the river ultimately flow into the Bay of Bengal.
The average depth of river is 282 feet (86 m) and maximum depth is 550 feet (170 m).
Course
From its source in the Manipur Hills near Mao Songsang, the river is known as the Barak River. At the border with Bangladesh, the river divides with the northern branch being called the Surma River and the southern the Kushiyara River. This is where the river enters the Sylhet Depression (or trough) which forms the Surma Basin.
The Surma is fed by tributaries from the Meghalaya Hills to the north, and is also known as the Baulai River after it is joined by the south-flowing Someswari River.
The Kushiyara receives tributaries from the Sylhet Hills and Tripura Hills to the south, the principal one from the Tripura Hills being the Manu. The Kushiyara is also known as the Kalni River after it is joined by a major offshoot (distributary) from the Surma. When the Surma and the Kushiyara finally rejoin in Kishoreganj District above Bhairab Bazar, the river is known as the Meghna River.Surma is the longest river in Bangladesh most of us we don't know.The Surma passes through many haors.
Titas rivers
Titas River
Titas River (Bangla: তিতাস Titash) is a trans-boundary river of south-eastern Bangladesh. It originates in the state of Tripura in India where it is known as Haora River in Bengali and Saidra in the local Kokborok language. Flowing near Agartala, (India), it enters Bangladesh through Akhaura Upazila in the Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh, then merges with the Meghna River to the south near Ashuganj. The length of the river is about 98 km. There is another river of the same name which starts as a distributary of the Meghna and flows back into it.
Legends
Many legends about Titas and Meghna traverse from generation to generation in world's largest deltaic country Bangladesh. One such legend says that Titas is the daughter of Meghna, who has been carrying her progeny to the Bay of Bengal since time immemorial. Amazingly enough, the two streams never commingle, and they keep a conspicuous demarcation line between them. While many hydrographers attribute this phenomenon to the difference in water properties of the two rivers, the people cherish to think of them as mother-daughter.
Links to the river in other spheres
Titas Gas, the biggest natural gas reserve of Bangladesh located in Brahmanbaria, which supplies gas to capital Dhaka, is named after this river.
Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (A river called Titas) is a powerful story in Bengali by Advaita Malla Barman turned into a touching film by Ritwik Ghatak. It is depiction of the tragic lives of a fishing community dependent on this river.
Bridges
In 2010, a railway bridge over this river was proposed.
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra,also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia.
From its origin in southwestern Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo River, it flows across southern Tibet to break through the Himalayas in great gorges and into Arunachal Pradesh (India) where it is known as Dihang. It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna (not to be mistaken with Yamuna of India). There it merges with the Ganges to form a vast delta, the Sunderbans. About 1,800 miles (2,900 km) long, the river is an important source for irrigation and transportation. Its upper course was long unknown, and its identity with the Yarlung Tsangpo was only established by exploration in 1884-86. This river is often called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra river. The average depth of river is 124 feet (38 m) and maximum depth is 380 feet (120 m). In Bangladesh the river merges with the Ganges and splits into two: the Padma and Meghna River. While most rivers on the Indian subcontinent have female names, this river has a rare male name, as it means "son of Brahma" in Sanskrit (putra means "son").
The Brahmaputra is navigable for most of its length. The lower reaches are sacred to Hindus. The river is prone to catastrophic flooding in spring when the Himalayan snows melt. The average discharge of the river is about 19,300 cubic metres per second (680,000 cu ft/s), and floods can reach over 100,000 cubic metres per second (3,500,000 cu ft/s). It is also one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit a tidal bore.
River course
Tibet
The Yarlung Tsangpo originates in the Jima Yangzong glacier near Mount Kailash in the northern Himalayas. It then flows east for about 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi), at an average height of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft), and is thus the highest of the major rivers in the world. In Tibet, the Tsangpo follows the suture line between the Eurasian plate and the Indian subcontinent. At its easternmost point, it bends around Mt. Namcha Barwa and forms the Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon, which is considered the deepest in the world.
Assam and adjoining region
As the river enters Arunachal Pradesh, it is called Siang and makes a very rapid descent from its original height in Tibet, and finally appears in the plains, where it is called Dihang. It flows for about 35 kilometres (22 mi) and is joined by two other rivers: Dibang and Lohit. From this point of confluence, the river becomes very wide and is called Brahmaputra. It is joined in Sonitpur District by the Jia Bhoreli (named the Kameng River where it flows from Arunachal Pradesh) and flows through the entire state of Assam. In Assam the river is sometimes as wide as 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). Between Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur districts the river divides into two channels---the northern Kherkutia channel and the southern Brahmaputra channel. The two channels join again about 100 kilometres (62 mi) downstream forming the Majuli island. At Guwahati near the ancient pilgrimage center of Hajo, the Brahmaputra cuts through the rocks of the Shillong Plateau, and is at its narrowest at 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) bank-to-bank. Because the Brahmaputra is the narrowest at this point the Battle of Saraighat was fought here. The first rail-cum-road bridge across the Brahmaputra was opened to traffic in April 1962 at Saraighat.
The environment of the Brahmaputra floodplains in Assam have been described as the Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests ecoregion. When compared to the other major rivers in India, the Brahmaputra is less polluted but it has its own problems: petroleum refining units contribute most of the industrial pollution load into the basin along with other medium and small industries. The main problem facing the river basin is that of constant flooding. Floods have been occurring more often in recent years with deforestation, and other human activities being the major causes.
In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra splits into two branches: the much larger branch continues due south as the Jamuna (Jomuna) and flows into the Lower Ganges, locally called Padma (Pôdda), while the older branch curves southeast as the lower Brahmaputra (Bromhoputro) and flows into the Meghna. Both paths eventually converge near Chandpur in Bangladesh and flow out into the Bay of Bengal. However, 250 years ago the actual Brahmaputra River passed through the Jamalpur and Mymensingh districts. A major earthquake led to its present flow. Fed by the waters of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, this river system forms the Ganges Delta which, at 59,570 square kilometres (23,000 sq mi), is one of the largest river deltas in the world.
Flooding
During the monsoon season (June–October), floods are a common occurrence. Deforestation in the Brahmaputra watershed has resulted in increased siltation levels, flash floods, and soil erosion in critical downstream habitat, such as the Kaziranga National Park in middle Assam. Occasionally, massive flooding causes huge losses to crops, life and property. Periodic flooding is a natural phenomenon which is ecologically important because it helps maintain the lowland grasslands and associated wildlife. Periodic floods also deposit fresh alluvium replenishing the fertile soil of the Brahmaputra River Valley. Thus flooding, agriculture, and agricultural practices are closely connected.
Transportation and navigation
Until Indian independence in 1947, the Brahmaputra was used as a major waterway. In the 1990s, the stretch between Sadiya and Dhubri in India was declared as National Waterway No.2., and it provides facilities for goods transportation. Recent years have seen a modest spurt in the growth of river cruises with the introduction of the cruise ship, "Charaidew," by Assam Bengal Navigation.
The waters of the River Brahmaputra are shared by China, India and Bangladesh. In the 1990s and 2000s, there was repeated speculation about China building a dam at the Great Bend, with a view to divert the waters to the North of the country. This was denied by the Chinese government for many years. At the Kathmandu Workshop of Strategic Foresight Group in August 2009 on Water Security in the Himalayan Region, which on a rare occasion brought together leading hydrologists from the Basin countries, the Chinese scientists argued that it was not feasible for China to undertake such a diversion. However on 22 April 2010, China confirmed that it was indeed building the Zangmu Dam on the Brahmaputra, but assured India that the project would not have any significant effect on the downstream flow to India.
In a meeting of scientists at Dhaka at 2010, 25 leading experts from the Basin countries issued a Dhaka Declaration on Water Security calling for exchange of information in low flow period, and other means of collaboration. Even though the UN Convention on Trans-boundary Water of 1997 does not prevent any of the Basin countries from building a dam, Customary Law offers relief to the lower riparian countries. Also, there is potential for China, India and Bangladesh to develop hydroelectricity projects and transboundary water navigation.
Mythology
There are many mythological stories on Brahmaputra. But the most popular and sacred one is about the river's birth in 'Kālikā Purāna'. It describes how Parashurama, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, got rid of his sin of beheading his own mother with an axe (or Parish) by taking bath in this sacred river. On strict order from his father Jamadagni (who had suspected his wife Renuka of adultery), Parashurām had to behead his own mother. As a result of this nefarious act, the axe got stuck to his hand and he was unable to take it off his hand. On advice from sages, he started on a pilgrimage and ultimately reached the place, which is presently known as Parashurām Kunda (about 25 km north of Tezu in Lomita district in Arunāchal Pradesh). The story says that the mighty river was then confined to a Kind (or Kunda) or a small lake surrounded by hills. Parashurām cut down the hills on one side to release the sacred water for the benefit of the common people. By this act, Parashurām’s axe came out of his hand to his great relief and he knew that he had been exonerated from his sin.
In another story, Shāntanu, a famous ancient sage began a long meditation in an ashram in Kailash Manasaravor area along with his beautiful wife Amodha. Amodha was so beautiful that Lord Brahma himself became enchanted by the beauty of Amodha and requested her to make love with him. But Amodha did not accept Brahma’s proposal. However, by that time Lord Brahma had become so excited that his semen discharged at that place. When Shāntanu came to know about this, he inseminated Brahma’s semen in the womb of Amodha. Subsequently, Amodha gave birth to a son and he was called Brahmaputra (literally "Brahma's son").[citation needed] The tank near the ashram of sage Shantanu is known as the Brahmkund. Another speculation is that because Brahmaputra is the largest river in India, it carries a male name, which is odd, because the holiest river in India, the Ganges, is named after a goddess.
Karnaphuli River
Karnaphuli (Bangla: কর্ণফুলি Kôrnophuli) (also spelt Karnafuli) is a 667 metres (2,188 ft) wide river in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. Originating from the Lushai hills in Mizoram, India, it flows 270 km (170 miles) southwest through Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong into the Bay of Bengal. A large hydroelectric power plant using Karnaphuli river was built in the Kaptai region during the 1960s. The mouth of the river hosts Chittagong sea port, the main port of Bangladesh.
Kaptai dam
The Kaptai Dam is the location of the Kaptai Hydro-power station, the only hydro-electric power plant in Bangladesh, was constructed in Kaptai in 1962. An earth-filled dam on the Karnaphuli River, the Kaptai Dam created the Kaptai Lake, which acts as the water reservoir for the hydropower station. The power plant produces a total of 230 megawatts of electricity.
Turag River
The Turag River (Bengali: তুরাগ নদী [t̪uraɡ nɔd̪i]) is the upper tributary of the Buriganga, a major river in Bangladesh. The Turag originates from the Bangshi River, the latter an important tributary of the Dhaleshwari River, flows through Gazipur and joins the Buriganga at Mirpur in Dhaka District. It is navigable by boat all year round.
Exemplifying the riverine character of Dhaka, the Turag is abundant in fish but suffers from acute water pollution. While attempts have been made to marginally widen the river, the majority of industry has made little effort to follow environmental law and the water has become visibly discolored.Content .
Religious significance
Tabligh Jam'at, a popular Islamic movement originating in South Asia, initially took hold in Dhaka in the 1950s as Maulana Abdul Aziz and other leaders set up the regional headquarters at the Kakrail Mosque near Ramna Park. An initiative of the movement is an emphasis on the six uṣūl or "basic principles," two of which include ilm, the pursuit of knowledge, and dhikr or zikr, a method of prayer involving repetitive invocation of hadith and Qur'an passages. To this end, the movement places importance on ijtema or assembly, where members gather to practice and participate in dhikr, hear religious sermons and discuss their activities.
The largest of these, the Bishwa Ijtema, is situated by the Turag River in Tongi and attracts estimates of between two to four million Muslims annually as well as representatives from over sixty countries, making it the second biggest Islamic congregation after the Hajj.
History
Earlier this river was called as (Bengali: "Kohor Doriya"), "Kohor river".
Condition of the river
This river is surrounded by unwanted pollutants. Due to the Bishwa Istema, pilgrims stay at the riverside for days without an adequate sanitation system. As a result, the garbage generated is thrown into the river and thus the river is polluted heavily. Moreover, the river is heavily polluted by factories lining the bank of the river.
No comments:
Post a Comment