The Teesta River has swelled up even during the dry season in the Lalmonirhat district, bringing joy to fishermen and farmers.
Officials say the river is usually dry during this time of the year, but in the last two-three days, the river has swelled significantly.
Nurul Islam, the gauge reader at Teesta Barrage's Dalia point said: Teesta Barrage Project is the largest irrigation project in the country. During this time of the year, farmers struggle to get water from the river for irrigation purposes, however, since last Thursday, the situation has changed.”
“Teesta River is now brimming with water due to an influx of water from the upstream,” the official said.
Islam also mentioned that 47.39cm of water flow was measured in the river on Wednesday, and on Thursday it increased to 49.90cm.
“The water flow was similar on Friday as well. On Saturday, however, the water flow decreased a little and stood at 49.70cm in the afternoon,” he added.
Meanwhile, Atiqur Rahman, a resident of the area said: “The water flow in Teesta has increased for the last three days. But it did not damage our crops. Instead, the biodiversity of the two banks has returned to life.”
A fisherman from the Doani area, Emdadul Haque, said: "I have been fishing since Saturday morning. I sold the fish at the price of Tk400-500 per kg in the local market.”
“If the flow of water in Teesta River was normal like this, then hundreds of people of this region could earn their living by fishing. That is why we demand the river be excavated.”
Rajab Ali, president of a local fisherman association, said: "There has been heavy rain in India for the past few days. Because of this, the water in the Teesta River has increased. Fishermen can catch fish in the river now.”
Asfaud Daulah, the executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Dalia, stated that heavy rainfall occurred upstream of the Teesta River in India, and the Lalmonirhat region also experienced two days of rain.
“As a result, the water level in the Teesta River has increased, which had previously dried,” he added.
