Bangali River
Encyclopedia
The Bangali River is one of the main river
s in the northern part of Bangladesh
(commonly known as North Bengal). As of 2007, the river is in the news because of the possibility that it might merge with the Jamuna River, which could lead to major changes in the geography of the region.
erupted in North Bengal. Two of the major centers of the Fakir-Sanyasi Rebellion
were Bogra District
and Rangpur, located on two sides of the Bangali River. Whether this was the reason that prompted the name Bangali (the people of Bengal) is still unknown.
of Teesta River
in Nilphamari District
. The river flows as the Ghaghot River from its source to Gaibandha
, where it splits into two branches – one moves towards the west as the "Ghaghot" and empties into the Karatoya River
at Sherpur
, Bogra District
; the other section of the Bangali River flows to the south and subsequently breaks into two sections in Bogra. These two sections join the Jamuna and Karatoa.
There are a number of distributaries of the Bangali River such as the Belal, Manosh, Modhukhali, Ichamoti, and Volka among others. These distributaries often dry up in the winter season.
Recently, with a gradual decrease in the flow of the Teesta River, the Jamuna has become the main source of water for the Bangali River. Some scientists, including former executive director of the River Research Institute, Abdul Wajed, consider the Jamuna to be the primary source of the river.
Similar to other rivers in the region, the Bangali undergoes several divisions and receives multiple tributaries. According to the Bogra District Gazetteer, the Bangali River flows through Sariakandi Upazila
to the south east and reaches Chou-Ghata. Thereafter, at Jurigacha, it splits into two major branches. The western branch named Hal-Halia flows towards the south passing across Bogra, Sherpur and Dhunat Upazila
. The eastern branch continues as the Bangali River through Dhunat Thana. At Bathuabari in Dhunat
, the two branches meet again and the conjoined flow continues by the name of "Fuljhur", which turns towards the west near South Pantabari and arrives at a place called Kachari Kallyani. The name of the stream changes here to Khanpur Mohona which soon drains into the Karatoa. From there, the combined Bangali–Karatoa flows by Modhiabagh, Himabari and Sherpur
.Very cool river.
used to pass through Mymensingh
and Bhoirob Bazaar to meet the Meghna River
. After 1787, the Brahmaputra changed its course to drain into the Padma River
.
Along with changes in course, the Jamauna and Teesta also gave rise to new distributaries in the aftermath of the 1787 flood. It is speculated that the Bangali River was born out of those changes of course of the Jamuna and Teesta.
will be completely submerged under water. Water would destroy the Bogra–Nagarbari road and eventually cause the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna to be ineffective. It would increase annual flooding in the floodplain of Bangali River.
Location: 24 50 41 N 89 50 41 E
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s in the northern part of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
(commonly known as North Bengal). As of 2007, the river is in the news because of the possibility that it might merge with the Jamuna River, which could lead to major changes in the geography of the region.
Etymology
In the later part of the 18th century, movements against the British RajBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
erupted in North Bengal. Two of the major centers of the Fakir-Sanyasi Rebellion
Sannyasi Rebellion
The Sannyasi Rebellion or Sannyasi Revolt is a term used to describe activities of sannyasis and fakirs, or Hindu and Muslim ascetics respectively, in Bengal, India in the late 18th century...
were Bogra District
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
and Rangpur, located on two sides of the Bangali River. Whether this was the reason that prompted the name Bangali (the people of Bengal) is still unknown.
Geography
The Bangali River originates as a distributaryDistributary
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary...
of Teesta River
Teesta River
River Teesta or Tista is said to be the lifeline of the Indian state of Sikkim, flowing for almost the entire length of the state and carving out verdant Himalayan temperate and tropical river valleys. The emerald-coloured river then forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal before joining...
in Nilphamari District
Nilphamari District
Nilphamari is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.-Geography: with an area of 1640.91 km², is bounded by Kuchbihar district of West Bengal on the north, Rangpur district on the south, Lalmonirhat district on the east and Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts on...
. The river flows as the Ghaghot River from its source to Gaibandha
Gaibandha District
Gaibandha is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.Gaibandha was established in 1875 when the subdivision was transferred from Bhabaniganj to Gaibandha. Gaibandha municipality was established in 1923. The literacy rate among the town people is...
, where it splits into two branches – one moves towards the west as the "Ghaghot" and empties into the Karatoya River
Karatoya River
Karatoya River , a small stream in Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh, was once a large and sacred river. A channel of it presently flows by the ancient ruins of Mahasthangarh in Bogra District. The Karatoya mahatmya bears testimony to its past greatness...
at Sherpur
Sherpur Upazila
Sherpur is an Upazila of Bogra District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sherpur has 12 Unions/Wards, 240 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 313 villages.It has 45,258 households and a total area of 296.27 km².-Demographics:...
, Bogra District
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
; the other section of the Bangali River flows to the south and subsequently breaks into two sections in Bogra. These two sections join the Jamuna and Karatoa.
There are a number of distributaries of the Bangali River such as the Belal, Manosh, Modhukhali, Ichamoti, and Volka among others. These distributaries often dry up in the winter season.
Recently, with a gradual decrease in the flow of the Teesta River, the Jamuna has become the main source of water for the Bangali River. Some scientists, including former executive director of the River Research Institute, Abdul Wajed, consider the Jamuna to be the primary source of the river.
Similar to other rivers in the region, the Bangali undergoes several divisions and receives multiple tributaries. According to the Bogra District Gazetteer, the Bangali River flows through Sariakandi Upazila
Sariakandi Upazila
Sariakandi is an Upazila of Bogra District in the division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.-Geography:Sariakandi is located at . It has 46406 units of house hold and a total area of 432.55 km² .-Demographics:...
to the south east and reaches Chou-Ghata. Thereafter, at Jurigacha, it splits into two major branches. The western branch named Hal-Halia flows towards the south passing across Bogra, Sherpur and Dhunat Upazila
Dhunat Upazila
Dhunat is an upazila of Bogra District in the Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh.Dhunat is a town situated near the Jamuna river. Every year a huge amount of crops are grown and the corn is the main agricultural product of this area. This small developing town has many schools, colleges, madrashas....
. The eastern branch continues as the Bangali River through Dhunat Thana. At Bathuabari in Dhunat
Dhunat Upazila
Dhunat is an upazila of Bogra District in the Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh.Dhunat is a town situated near the Jamuna river. Every year a huge amount of crops are grown and the corn is the main agricultural product of this area. This small developing town has many schools, colleges, madrashas....
, the two branches meet again and the conjoined flow continues by the name of "Fuljhur", which turns towards the west near South Pantabari and arrives at a place called Kachari Kallyani. The name of the stream changes here to Khanpur Mohona which soon drains into the Karatoa. From there, the combined Bangali–Karatoa flows by Modhiabagh, Himabari and Sherpur
Sherpur Upazila
Sherpur is an Upazila of Bogra District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sherpur has 12 Unions/Wards, 240 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 313 villages.It has 45,258 households and a total area of 296.27 km².-Demographics:...
.Very cool river.
History
The present-day streams of Jamuna and Teesta were created after a massive flood in 1787. The flood had a major impact on the geography of rivers in the region; several rivers changed course, and the changes continued for the next forty years. Prior to the flood, the Brahmaputra RiverBrahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra , also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia. It is the only Indian river that is attributed the masculine gender and thus referred to as a in Indo-Aryan languages and languages with Indo-Aryan influence...
used to pass through Mymensingh
Mymensingh
Mymensingh , pronounced moy-mon-shing-haw, is a city of Bangladesh situated on the river Brahmaputra. It is the headquarters of the administrative unit Mymensingh District. Mymensingh is the anglicized pronunciation of the original name Momenshahi, referring to a ruler called Momen Shah. The cadet...
and Bhoirob Bazaar to meet the Meghna River
Meghna River
The Meghna River is an important river in Bangladesh, one of the three that forms the Ganges Delta, the largest on earth fanning out to the Bay of Bengal. Being a part of the Surma-Meghna River System, Meghna is formed inside Bangladesh by the joining of different rivers originaing from the hilly...
. After 1787, the Brahmaputra changed its course to drain into the Padma River
Padma River
The Padma is a major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges , which originates in the Himalayas. The Padma enters Bangladesh from India near Chapai Nababganj...
.
Along with changes in course, the Jamauna and Teesta also gave rise to new distributaries in the aftermath of the 1787 flood. It is speculated that the Bangali River was born out of those changes of course of the Jamuna and Teesta.
Concerns
Scientists are concerned about the current condition of the Bangali River. According to the "Pani Unnoyon Board" (Water Development Board), every year the Jamuna moves 80 m (262 ft) closer to the Bangali as a result of erosion of its banks. As of 2007, a stretch of only 300 m (984 ft) separates the two rivers, an alarming sign for the continued existence of the Bangali River. Engineers worry that if these two rivers merge, an area of 1,000 square kilometres and 9 m (30 ft) of Bogra and SirajganjSirajganj
Sirajganj is a town in central Bangladesh, lying just west of the Brahmaputra River and about 70 mi. northwest of Dhaka.- Overview :...
will be completely submerged under water. Water would destroy the Bogra–Nagarbari road and eventually cause the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna to be ineffective. It would increase annual flooding in the floodplain of Bangali River.
Location: 24 50 41 N 89 50 41 E