Some rivers including the Jamuna, the Ichhamati, the Dhepa, and Punarbhaba, which flow over the northern district of Dinajpur, are facing the problem of siltation leading to the thin flow of water in the dry season and floods in the rainy season.

Currently, a total of 21 big and small rivers are flowing over the district. Chhuto and Boro Atrai, Korotoa, Kakra, Dhepa, Punarbhaba, Garbeswari, Chhuto Jamuna, Ichhamati, Bhulli, Patharghata, Norto, Chhuto Dhepa, Belan, Nolshisha, Tulshiganga, Chiri, Mohila, Tentulia, and Bhelamati rivers are prominent of these.

More than one thousand farmers are cultivating various types of crops on 906 hectares of land in the char areas (Islands) of these rivers during the winter season. Boro paddy of BRRI-28 and BRRI-32, watermelon, potato, chilli, and various types of vegetables are the main crops in these islands. Landless farmers of the adjacent areas don’t hesitate to cultivate in these rivers and islands.

Most of the rivers in the district have lost their navigability and past glory. Rivers are also losing their way of flow and existence. Encroachers have also occupied two banks of these rivers. As a result, the natural environment of this region is in an endangered position. 

On the other hand, heavy flood is common scenery in Dinajpur during the rainy season due to the poor water-consuming power of the rivers. These rivers turned into sand fields from November to March. Moreover, various types of wastes have polluted some rivers including Chhuto Jamuna and Punarbhaba.  

A youth named Apu, who resides on the bank of a river, said juveniles on the river banks play in the river during the dry season and lack of playing ground. Many local youth organisations arrange Cricket and Football tournaments in the river islands. 

Dinajpur Water Development Board executive engineer Rakibul Hasan said the width and the depth of some rivers including Punarbhaba and Tulai have declined. Most of the rivers turn into dead rivers because of siltation during monsoon. On the other hand, heavy floods occur during the rainy season. The banks of Punarbhaba have been constructed with concrete blocks and six rivers have been excavated to keep the water flow normal. Proposals were made to excavate the Chhuto Jamuna and Ichhamari River in the future, he added.   

About river encroachment, Rakibul Hasan said the Water Development Board only executes water treatment. The land office is responsible for the river’s land management. The office of the deputy commissioner is scrutinizing the list of the encroachers of some rivers including Atrai and Punarbhaba River. The list named more than 1,500 encroachers, he added.   

The officer also said the Water Development Board has constructed a regulator cum barrage in Punarbhaba River at Gauripur point to increase the water flow during agriculture season. Around 3,600 hectares of fallow land in Birol and Dinajpur Sadar upazila will come under cultivation for this barrage. Around 1,500 lands have already come under cultivation. Besides, the communication and socio-economic conditions of the region have developed for constructing bridges.                  

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 23, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.