Like murders and attacks, there is no accurate record of how many rivers are in this country. Different official records of the government have different accounts. Judging by the average accounts, two thirds of the rivers no longer exist. There are many such bridges and culverts in the country which do not have any river or stream under them. It is clear that there must have been rivers or tributaries earlier. Even the course of the river has been reduced to a third. All this has happened not only because of upstream dams in India but also because of large development projects within Bangladesh.
In the National Water Plan of 1964, polders were created, leading to the current water accumulation in the southwest. In the eighties, a national water management plan was drawn up, expanding irrigation with groundwater.
Again in the eighties the flood action plan of the World Bank came along. He taught to control flood by enclosing the whole country with concrete. This work could not be taken up due to strong opposition, but it actually continues under a different name. Then came the Delta Plan 2100. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan and Bangladesh Environment Network BEN criticized the project, specifically pointing out its many flaws and risks, but to no avail.
Then the River Bank Improvement Scheme (2015-23) has been started by taking loan from World Bank and ADB. In the name of protecting the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, rivers are being narrowed and land is being taken back. To facilitate riverine transit to India, dredging is being done for a deeper channel. The Teesta River has been affected by dams upstream in India. Without solving that problem, Teesta is being further narrowed for a mega project with Chinese funds, roads are being built on both sides, resorts are being built and much more. There is also a Sustainable River Management Plan for major rivers.
All these projects are being implemented with foreign loans. These provide a long-term source of income for consultants, bureaucrats, engineers and construction companies. But the people who own these rivers have no idea what is happening. Feasibility studies, public opinion, public acceptance, are just eyewash. These projects are all in English, the beneficiary civil servants, ministers and consultants make a lot of rhetoric and advertise the projects. No one takes responsibility for the consequences. Governments change, but these subversive projects continue unabated.
