A History of A River named Narasunda in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh – How it’s becoming at the Eve of Disappearing
By Sadia Noor Portia (7th semester – English Department,
Independent University, Bangladesh)
Published on: Apr 3, 2020 at 03:57
We are constantly seeing news of the rivers being narrow and disappeared. For this reason, many economic losses have happened as well as damages to our natural environment.
At one time many people used to make their living by fishing in the river. But now our indigenous species of fish in the river are decreasing day by day. One of the reasons responsible for the disappearing or narrowing of the river is the inconsistency in the excavation projects.
The excavation projects were not implemented properly. This is the condition of Bangladesh’s rivers today due to various irregularities and corruption.
One such river is the Narasunda river of Kishoreganj which has become almost dead. For the restoration of the river Narasunda and beautification of both sides in Kishoreganj a big project was implemented in the FY 2013- 14 & 2014-15 under the Local Govt. Engineering Department (LGED).
In the name of excavation, it made a narrow lake by constructing a nos. of beautiful culverts, bridges, walkways. At that time those beautification works were done by filling both sides of the river in some locations.
Due to this, the river became narrower in some parts under the Kishoreganj town area. Because of that cross-section and longitudinal sloping could not be maintained properly. So, after the project was completed the river turned into nos. of the long-shaped thin lake.
Now there is no flow of water in the dry season and paddy is being cultivated across many parts of it. After the river becoming narrower, the illegal occupiers have started their occupying activities which have accelerated the river turning to almost dead.
This is the actual scenario of causing a river disappeared from the map of the whole of Bangladesh. Every year, many rivers are losing their existence due to occupancy and pollution.
