A worsening navigability crisis in the 30-kilometre-long Boluga Canal is severely disrupting trade, agriculture, and fisheries in Gopalganj, particularly in and around the key commercial hub of Ramdia.
The canal originates from the Madhumati Beel Route Channel at Bherarhat in Sadar upazila, flows through Ramdia Port in Kashiani upazila, and merges with the Chandana–Barashia River in Faridpur. For decades, it has served as a vital inland waterway, connecting Ramdia with Dhaka and other parts of the country—earning it the reputation as the port’s lifeline.
Over time, Ramdia has developed into one of the district’s principal commercial centres. It hosts two food warehouses, several commercial bank branches, a college established in 1942, two high schools, and various other educational institutions, along with a police outpost and government offices. Agricultural and other goods worth several crores of taka are traded here daily, contributing significantly to the local economy.
However, as the monsoon season ends, water levels in the canal drop sharply. Sediment buildup has filled large sections of the canal, drastically reducing its navigability. As a result, river transport, goods movement, and irrigation activities have been severely hampered. The production of indigenous fish species has also declined.
According to the Gopalganj office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), the government undertook a dredging project in 2017 at a cost of Tk 2.34 crore, implemented in three packages, to restore navigability and support irrigation on approximately 10,000 hectares of land. Although the project initially improved water flow, the benefits did not last.
Md Saeed Molla, a trader at Ramdia Bazar, said that the canal once supported vibrant trade. “Traders from Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Jhalakathi, and Tekerhat used to come here by large boats and trawlers. Now, due to the navigability crisis, business has almost come to a standstill,” he added.
Another trader, Akram Hossain, alleged that around ten temporary embankments were built between Sonadanga and Kumaria during the dredging work but were not removed afterwards, despite contractual obligations.
Harej Ali from Sonadanga village said, “There is no water in the canal. We cannot irrigate our fields and have to rely on shallow pumps, which increases production costs. Fish are no longer available in the canal, even though they were once a major source of livelihood.”
Gopal Das, a farmer from Lakshmipur village, said, “The canal has not been dredged for a long time and has effectively turned into a dead canal.”
Kamal Hossain, an entrepreneur from Ramdia Bazar, said that dredging the canal could restore its navigability and once again support trade, agriculture, fisheries, and the environment.
Md Anis Haider Khan, Executive Engineer of BWDB in Gopalganj, said that canal re-excavation projects are being implemented nationwide. “We have already taken several initiatives, and a proposal to dredge the Boluga Canal has been submitted and is awaiting approval. Once approved, the canal will be dredged on a priority basis,” he said.