Years of siltation and illegal encroachment have reduced the Kangsha River in Mymensingh to a dying channel, disrupting irrigation, fisheries and flood drainage, while nearby rivers face similar degradation.
The Kangsha River in Mymensingh’s Dhobaura upazila, once a vital lifeline for thousands of people, is now struggling to survive as years of siltation and illegal encroachment continue to choke its natural flow.
The river, which once played a crucial role in irrigation, fisheries, transport of goods and river communication with other parts of Mymensingh, Netrokona and nearby districts, has largely shrunk into a narrow channel during the dry season. Vast stretches of sand now dominate areas where strong currents once flowed.
Local residents said influential groups have been occupying parts of the river for years and obstructing water flow for various purposes, including fish farming, while authorities allegedly failed to take effective action against the encroachment.
The crisis is not limited to the Kangsha alone. Several other rivers in Dhobaura upazila, including the Satar Khali, Ghaghatia, Taraboi, Sutia, Gudaira and Pachai, are facing similar threats from siltation and illegal occupation.
“Earlier, the river provided water for irrigation throughout the year. Now it is barely clinging to life,” said Mahmud Hossain, a resident of Taraikandi village.
Zakirul Islam Talukdar, chairman of Goatola Union Parishad, said heavy siltation has severely reduced the river’s ability to drain excess water during the monsoon season, often triggering flash floods that damage crops.
SM Abid Hossain, sub-divisional engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Mymensingh, said the river lies in a floodplain area where large volumes of upstream water carry huge amounts of silt each season.
Because of the river’s geographical condition, dredging would not be a sustainable solution, he said.
“We are considering expansion of the floodplain so that floodwaters can spread into adjacent areas and reduce the extent of river erosion,” he added.
Dhobaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mosharraf Hossain said authorities are working on proposals aimed at ensuring proper management of the rivers in the upazila.
