#RDRC identified 1,274 rivers in 1971

#NRCC report now finds 770

The country has lost some 504 rivers in the last 50 years due to continuous hindrance to water flow, construction of unplanned infrastructures, illegal grabbing, massive pollution and lack of supervision by the authorities concerned.

A research on the country’s 11 sectors of the War of Liberation, conducted by River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), shows that the number of rivers was 1,274 in 1971.

However, the country has now only 770 rivers, according to a report of the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC).

During the War of Liberation, freedom fighters conducted operations against the Pakistani occupation forces using the river routes to benefit strategically.

RDRC Chairman Mohammad Azaz told the Daily Sun that they found some 1,274 rivers under 11 sectors of the war.

According to the research findings, there were around 117 rivers under Sector-1 while 170 under Sector-2, 117 under Sector-3, 50 under Sector-4, 89 under Sector-5, 120 under Sector-6, 143 under Sector-7, 62 under Sector-8, 260 under Sector-9 and 146 under Sector-11.

 The RDRC used satellite images of Bangladesh between 1968 and 1972, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing Software such as ArcGIS 10.8, Erdas Imagine, and Google Earth to identify and demarcate both the rivers and sectors.

 They also used historical maps and published articles as secondary data.

 The RDRC found that over 300 guerrilla operations, including Operation Jackpot and Operation Hot Pants, were conducted using river routes and at least 231 bridges on major rivers that helped destroy the road connectivity and make Pakistani occupation forces isolated.

The RDRC chairman said the rivers were lost due to continuous blockage of water flow from the upstream, construction of infrastructures blocking the rivers, channels and canals, illegal grabbing and pollution of the rivers. “When freedom fighters were sabotaged at the BTV Bhaban at Rampura, they escaped the Pakistani attacks through the Norai River. But the historic river has turned into a canal named Rampura Khal.”

He said the rivers are very important for defence, trade, communications and other aspects. “The High Court has termed the rivers a living entity. The rivers contributed like the freedom fighters during the War of Liberation. But we haven’t preserved those,” he said, adding that the successive governments failed to revive the rivers.

Talking to the Daily Sun, former NRCC Chairman Muzibur Rahman Howlader urged the government to identify and reclaim all the rivers using technology. “The government must put the best efforts in reviving the rivers by using Remote Sensing Software and Geographic Information System,” he said.