Hamidul Huq, PhDInstitute of Livelihoods

Studies

Rivers of Bangladesh

• Bangladesh is a country of 700 rivers.

• These rivers are divided into four major river systems:

- Ganges river system;

- Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system;

- Megna river system; and

- South-East (Karnaphuli) river system.

4. NW

3. NC

2. NE

1. SW

5. SC

6. SE

7. EH8. RE

4. NW

3. NC

2. NE

1. SW

5. SC

6. SE

7. EH8. RE

4. NW

3. NC

2. NE

1. SW

5. SC

6. SE

7. EH8. RE

1. South West

2. North East

3. North Central

4. North West

5. South Central

6. South East

7. Eastern Hill

8. River & Estuary

Hydrological Regions of Bangladesh

Source: Mozaddad Faruque, 2009

Southwest Region:

• The Southwest region is covered by Ganges river system. This system is again divided into two types:

- Rivers originated from the mountain like Padma and its braches; and

- the Tidal Rivers. • There are about 170 river and canals in Sundarban

alone.

Hydrology of South west region

High density of rivers:- 170 river and canal in

SundarbanTidal river systemSalinityTidal floodStorm surgeLow flowSea level rise

Tidal River SystemRivers of South West zone are tidal. Two high tide and two low tide times in every 24 hours. The

whole area gets inundated during high tide time and water gets receded during low tide time.

Southwest region was dominated by capillary tidal rivers’ network including 170 river and canals of Sundarban.

Rivers of this region are Muroly, Rupsa, Bhoirab, Kapotakhkha, Horihor, Muktashawry, Sree Nodi, Hori Nodi, Bhodra, Buribhodra, Shalota, Sholemary, Telipati, Gaury, Modhumati, Nobogonga, Chitra, and Isamoti on the Indian Border.

This region was known as floodplain. The rivers of South West zone are Bay of Bengal bound and brought fresh water from Padma/Ganges in the past until the Padma was dried up with the influence of Farakka.

On the other hand, tidal water brought saline water from the Bay of Bengal that damaged the crops.

Local people built seasonal earthen dyke to protect their crop field preventing saline water intrusion. They called it Ostomashi bandh (eight months time dyke).

Tidal River System

Floodplains perform an important hydraulic function by acting as detention reservoir. The detention function moderates the flood flow.

The inter-tidal lands create a flushing action through alternate storage and release of water that helps in maintaining the river morphology.

Floodplain water regime provides conditions for rich aquatic habitat for fish, turtles and birds, and resort to migratory birds, and harbor and support animal and plant bio-diversity.

The ecological resources of floodplain is an important source of livelihood for the poor section of the society.

Functions of Floodplain

Storage of flood waterSoil formationGroundwater rechargeLand/soil fertilityNavigationFish breeding siteFish nurseryWild lifeWild birdsIrrigationDomestic uses of water

FishShellsCrabsSnailDuckShapla (Water Lily)ShalukGrass for fodderMedicinal plantWater hyacinth

Coastal Embankment Project (CEP)

With the objectives of protecting crops, increasing agricultural products/grow more food and goal of creating permanent agro-based production structure and food security, the Pakistan Government implemented the “Coastal Embankment Project” in Southwest Region.

During the period of 1960 - 1970, 37 Polders, 4000 km dyke and 780 sluice gates were built and 540,000 ha floodplain were brought under polders in Southwest region.

•Farmers could grow double, even triple amount crops in following 10-15 years of CEP implementation.•Road communication improved.

Water logging appeared due to these polders, sluice gates and embankment and got escalated over the period since 1985.

The whole floodplains of SW region got affected by water logging.

Agriculture collapsed totally & Farmers were helpless. Agriculture laborers became unemployed. Fishermen became vulnerable. Overall livelihoods had turned into extreme vulnerable,

people were forced live in permanent hazards.

Water Logging

Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project KJDRPBWDB implemented Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation

Project during the period of 1994 – 1997 The objectives was “poverty reduction through increased

agriculture production and creation of on-farm employment in the project area”.

Specific objective was “to provide/enhance improved drainage and flood control facilities to 100600 ha of gross benefitted area”.

KJDRP was seriously contested, protested and opposed by the local people because of its engineering physical structural approach to address the water logging issues. But the KJDRP continued.

KJDRP generated extreme level of Water logging in the area.

TRM by the local people

The Water Logging condition escalated up to an extreme level in 1997.

Local people got organised under Pani Committee (water committee)

Facilitated a ‘public cut’ of the embankment on Beel Vayena to reopen the free flow tidal system,

Which made the area water logging free. This system continued for four years and three months.

Impact of TRM

70,000 ha land got free from water loggingThe linked Hori river bed level was higher than Beel Vayena

before TRM, which got free from siltation by the TRM and bed if 10-12 meter deep and wideness of this river increased up to two to three times.

Beel Vayena bed is leveled with the siltation, because 90% of the tidal silt got deposited into the beel.

Villages are now free from water logging.Agriculture is back to the area.Livelihoods opportunities are also back to some extent.

TRM by BWDB

Drawing upon a report of CEGIS on People’s TRM, BWDB initiated TRM project in 2002.

BWDB labeled the people’s initiated TRM as “unplanned TRM”. BWDB implemented a planned TRM in Beel Kedaira during the

period of 2002- 2005. This TRM generated extreme water logging in the area

because, only 1/13th amount of tidal silt got deposited into the beel and the rest of the tidal silt got deposited into the river.

The planned TRM was again engineering physical infrastructure dominant.

BWDB initiated their 2nd TRM in 2006 in Beel Khukshia. Local people demanded compensation. BWB agreed. Implementation of this project continued

without paying compensation. Local people think, it will need at least 10 years to fill up

Beel Khukhsia up to cultivation level. Local people cannot use this beel. More than 2000 families of 13 villages around Beel

Khukhsia are rather victims of this TRM project of BWDB.

TRM by BWDB

Local people expected that the BWDB should use the knowledge and experience of people’s initiated TRM

But unfortunately BWDB followed their own traditions. Hence, their “planned TRM” project failed. TRM may be efficient and effective if it is embedded in

‘counter-development’ approach.

TRM by BWDB

Prof. Rezaur Rahman, 2011Crossing Boundaries project, 2011CEGIS, 2011Nandi

Acknowledgement