Rivers of Bangladesh (Drainage) PDF

Rivers of Bangladesh (Drainage) Rivers of Bangladesh A total of 58 international rivers flow through Bangladesh. Sangu and Halda are only two rivera originated and finished with in Bangladesh. Surma is the largest river inside Bangladesh, Karnafuli is the s...

Rivers of Bangladesh (Drainage) Rivers of Bangladesh A total of 58 international rivers flow through Bangladesh. Sangu and Halda are only two rivera originated and finished with in Bangladesh. Surma is the largest river inside Bangladesh, Karnafuli is the swiftest, Jamuna is the widest river of our country. Flooding of the rivers during the monsoon season causes enormous hardship and hinders development, but fresh deposits of rich silt replenish the fertile but overworked soil. The rivers also drain excess monsoon rainfall into the Bay of Bengal. Thus, the great river system is at the same time the country's principal resource and its greatest hazard. Rivers in Bangladesh, however, are subject to constant and sometimes rapid changes of course, which can affect the hydrology of a large region; consequently, no description of Bangladesh’s topography retains its absolute accuracy for long. One spectacular example of such a change occurred in 1787, when the Tista River underwent exceptionally high flooding; its water was suddenly diverted eastward, when they reinforced the Brahmaputra. The swollen Brahmaputra in turn began to cut into a minor stream, which by the early 1800s become the river’s main lower course, now known as the Jamuna. A much smaller river now flows though the Brahmaputra’s former course. Importance of Rivers: 1. Water supply 2. Transportation 3. Irrigation for agriculture 4. Generating Electricity 5. Fisheries 6. Employment 7. Carry Waste Functions of Rivers: 1. Erosion 2. Transportation 3. Deposition  River Profile: The river profile shows the slope of a river as it journeys from source to mouth. The diagram below illustrates the long profile of a river. The slope falls steeply, to begin with, then becomes concave and then almost flat. Figure: River Profile Figure: The formation of flood plains and levees Figure: Formation of Oxbow lakes Meanders: a winding curve or bend of a river or road. Oxbow lake: An oxbow lake is a U-shaped lake that forms when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a free-standing body of water. MAIN RIVERS OF BANGLADESH  The Jamuna-Brahmaputra River System The Jamuna-Brahmaputra is 292 km long and extends from northern Bangladesh to its confluence with the Padma. Originating in Tibet and flowing through India's state of Arunachal Pradesh, where it becomes known as the Brahmaputra ("Son of Brahma"). At the point where the Brahmaputra meets the Tista River in Bangladesh, it becomes known as the Jamuna.  The Padma-Ganges River System The second system is the Padma-Ganges, which is divided into two sections: a 258-kilometer segment, the Ganges, which extends from the western border with India to its confluence with the Jamuna some 72 km west of Dhaka, and a 126-kilometer segment, the Padma, which runs from the Ganges-Jamuna confluence to where it joins the Meghna River at Chandpur.  The Surma-Meghna River System The third network is the Surma-Meghna system, which courses from the northeastern border with India to Chandpur, where it joins the Padma. The Surma-Meghna, at 669 kilometers by itself the longest river in Bangladesh. Below the city of Kalipur it is known as the Meghna. When the Padma and Meghna join together, they form the fourth river system--the Padma-Meghna--which flows 145 km to the Bay of Bengal.  The Tista River System The Tista is the most important water carrier of northeastern Bangladesh. Rising in the Himalayas near Sikkim, India, it flows southward, turning southeast near Darjiling to erter Bangladesh and eventually meeting the Jamuna. Navigation of its lower reaches is made difficult by the shoals and quicksand that from near the junction with the Brahmaputra.  The Karnophuli River System Flowing through the region of Chittagong and the Chittagong Hills, it cuts across the hills and runs rapidly downhill to the west and southwest and then to the sea. The port of Chittagong is situated on the banks of the Karnaphuli. The Karnaphuli Reservoir and Karnaphuli Dam are located in this area. RIVER BLESSINGS AND THREATS OF BANGLADESH The rivers of Bangladesh mark both the physiography of the nation and the life of the people. About 700 in number, these rivers generally flow south. The larger rivers serve as the main source of water for cultivation and as the principal arteries of commercial transportation. Rivers also provide fish, an important source of protein. Flooding of the rivers during the monsoon season causes enormous hardship and hinders development, but fresh deposits of rich silt replenish the fertile but overworked soil. The rivers also drain excess monsoon rainfall into the Bay of Bengal. Thus, the great river system is at the same time the country's principal resource and its greatest hazard. Floods and Bangladesh are almost synonymous. The poor agrarian communities who live in huts of mud and straw on the banks of the rivers, are worst affected, and spend lifetimes trying to recover from damages to their livestock and other properties. Accidents in river transport are also regular since the authorities exercise poor controls on the loading of country craft. Scarcely a year goes by without the rivers of Bangladesh causing as much misery, as the bounties they bestow on the people in normal weather. Many economic benefits are lost because the banks of rivers shift so frequently, and because planned drainage of a precious natural asset is simply unavailable. It is sad but true that many flood ravaged areas also suffer from cyclical droughts. Almost all of the rivers are sourced outside of Bangladesh and flows through the neighboring India. There are two uncontrollable factors from the Bangladesh perspective: i) international funding for infrastructural investments, and ii) cooperation by India. Though the Bangladesh government is helpless when the weather is inclement, or when India allows excess discharges from the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, there is credible action that Dhaka can take to control pollution, to promote judicious use of water resources, and to protect the natural eco-systems in the waters and around the banks. The future well-being of the people of Bangladesh depends in large measure on whether such actions start early or not.