Experts working on rivers yesterday said all rivers that flow through Bangladesh and India should be recognised for the sake of an extensive basin-wise management plan.
At present, there are a total of 54 rivers enlisted as trans-boundary rivers.
There are many other such rivers yet to be enlisted, said hydrology expert Ainun Nishat, at a book launch in the city's Drik gallery yesterday.
Citing the example of Mohadeo River in Netrakona district of Bangladesh, he said these unrecognised shared rivers should be documented immediately to enable good planning.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Drik jointly launched the book, titled “Rivers Beyond Borders: India-Bangladesh Trans-boundary River Atlas.”
“When we talk about cross-border rivers, people think only about the well-known major rivers, such as Padma, Brahmaputra and Teesta. But every small and medium-sized shared river has their own unique basin, and the lives of people who live in the vicinities are directly dependent on them,” Ainun Nishat said.
Criticising the Indo-Bangla Joint River Commission (JRC), he said: “The JRC only works on some major rivers, but never addresses the smaller ones. But these rivers are also important for the well-being of those living in these basins. These are particularly important because agriculture depends heavily on these rivers.”