Brahmaputra runs dry in Mymensingh

Despite dredging efforts being underway since 2019, the Old Brahmaputra has failed to show any signs of the expected increase in its water levels.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials, in a meeting held in May last year, assured that the river would have a 10-metre water depth by June-July, this year. The current scenario, however, tells a different story.

Once flowing with a diametre of 12-14 kilometres, the Old Brahmaputra has now shrunk to a mere canal, a couple of hundred metres, with only knee-length water at various points, including Kalibari area and Kachari Ferry Ghat in Mymensingh Sadar.

Repeated siltation and continuous encroachment have pushed the 283-km-long Old Brahmaputra, the country's longest river stretching from Dewanganj in Jamalpur to Meghna in Kishoreganj's Bhairab, towards extinction.

Repeated siltation and continuous encroachment have pushed the 283-km long Old Brahmaputra, the country's longest river stretching from Dewanganj in Jamalpur to Meghna in Kishoreganj's Bhairab, towards extinction.

According to BIWTA sources, Navigability Improvement and Excavation of Old Brahmaputra (2019), a project with an approximate budget of Tk 2,763 crore, was initially scheduled for completion by June 2024.

However, with not much being done under the initiative, Jonouddog, a citizen's forum, were seen staging protests to alert the authorities in this regard.

Upon visiting several dredging spots in the river, the activists were very disappointed to see sections of this waterbody being similar to a "pond".

"We were promised a 10-feet deep and 300-feet wide river by this year but no visible improvements came to our notice," said Nazrul Islam Chunnu, a lawyer and the forum's convener.

The authorities must follow the Classification Survey and Khatiyan processes, asserted Professor Anwarul Islam, former vice chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University and an advisor to the forum.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials, in a meeting held in May last year, assured that the river would have a 10-metre water depth by June-July, this year. The current scenario, however, tells a different story.

Meanwhile, Mriter Chiktar, a young group of nature conservation activists, staged a demonstration at Kachari Ferry Ghat area to preserve what is left of the river.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Mymensingh is home to around 47 rivers which depend on the Old Brahmaputra for their smooth and natural flow.

"This river route was used to transport agricultural produce, commute passengers to Narayanganj, Manikganj, and Gazipur, and for fishing," recalled Ziauddin Ahmed, an 85-year-old journalist and freedom fighter.

Nurul Amin Kalam, secretary of Mymensingh Zila Nagorik Andolon, a local citizens' organisation, claimed that a four-km-long shoal accumulated over three decades has altered the shape of the river.

"If properly dredged, the river would bring benefits to over crore locals. The authorities had ignored our suggestion of river dredging in Dewanganj. The project will not see positive outcomes if the huge shoal in the upper basin remains," he said.

Mohammad Mohsin Miah, executive engineer of BIWTA, however, said the dredging efforts are being carried out as per plans.

"The water level is expected to rise in the coming monsoon. We will soon begin dredging the confluence of the Jamuna and Brahmaputra rivers in Dewanganj and Jamalpur," he assured.