River encroachment has continued in Nilphamari; structures are built, plus paddy and vegetable is cultivated, on riverbeds.
Nilphamari is home to nearly 600km of rivers. These include the: Paramatta, Tista, Buri Tista, Charalkata, Burikhora, Dhum, Bamandanga, Panga, Kumlai, Nautara, Jamuneshwari, Ichhamati, Kalamdar, Kharkharia, Bullai, Deonai, Shalki, Kherkati, Chara Nodi, Kherua, Chikli, and Auliakhana.
Most of these rivers are on the brink of extinction due to their decreasing water levels. They have been filled in and often turned into cropland. Structures have been built upon some of them.
Powerful land grabbers drying up river beds
The once fast-flowing Jamuneshwari River is now farmed for different kinds of crops. The main course of the river, upstream from the Haratkitala Bridge, is surrounded by a tin fence.
Locals said a company has recently bought all the river land.
Former Union Parishad (UP) Chairman of Palashbari union, 95-year-old Shyamcharan Roy, told the Dhaka Tribune: "I have seen how fast the Jamuneshwari River flowed. In my childhood, fishermen used to earn their livelihoods by catching small and big fish from the Jamuneshwari.
"Traders from far away used to come for commerce," he said. "My forefathers would tell me about steamers on this river. And now, encroachment has left it almost dead."
Rahidul Islam, 82, from Kamarpara village under the same union, said: "No one can deduce from the river's current flow that it was once fast flowing. People are grabbing land however they can."
Meanwhile, Palashbari UP Chairman Momtaz Uddin Pramanik, 85, said: "This one company has bought a lot of river land at a very low price. Some parts of the river have been silted up. If the river were excavated, it would help the locals with their farming."
Jamuneshwari River's source lies in Bilanchal in Mekhliganj village in Kuchbihar of India, and enters through the border in Gomnati union under Domar upazila in Nilphamari. Another branch from Bilanchal has joined the Jamuneshwari, passing through Ketkibari union.
The river is 50 metres wide and 116km long.
The Bamandanga River flows right beside Nilphamari town. Shakhamachha Port, built around this river, was once the most important spots for trade and commerce in Nilphamari. Cargo boats, from all across the country, used to come to participate in trade.
Now, after gradual filling, the river has fallen victim to land encroachment, and has turned into a playground for locals. Encroachers regularly build structures on river land.
Abdus Sattar, 75, from Sarkarpara village in Nilphamari town, said several establishments—such as rice mills, cleats for drying paddies, small factories, and houses—have been built by encroaching on the Bamandanga; all the way from Gachhbari to Anandabubu's pool.
"These mills are further filling up the river by throwing in ash as waste material," Sattar said. "Despite the issue getting everyone's attention, nobody is brave enough to speak up against the influential land encroachers."
Nearly 42km long, 38m wide, and 2.3m deep, the Burikhora River flowing through Ramnagar union has now turned into cropland.
Boro paddy and corn is cultivated on the cropland near Shyannashi Ghat in Bahalipara village of Ramnagar.
"The river has lost its retention capacity after being filled up," Bidyacharan Roy, 69, from Bahalipara said. "As a result, in dry seasons, the river hardly gets any water, but during the monsoon it floods easily."
Kalamdar River in Domar upazila has a similar situation. The river was used for washing and cooking by guests who would come to visit the Peer's fair hosted on the banks of Kalamdar. However, just like the other rivers in Nilphamari, it has been filled up for cultivation.
Water Development Board Executive engineer Abdullah Al Mamun told the Dhaka Tribune: "There are 18 small and large rivers in Nilphamari. We will start an operation soon, to keep these rivers from being encroached on. We have sent a list of the rivers to the National River Protection Commission."
"There is no river in the country that has not been grabbed," River protection and research institute foundation Riverine People Bangladesh's Director Dr Tuhin Wadud said. "We need to bring changes to laws on river encroachment. The River Protection Commission needs to be strengthened by coordinating it with other ministries."
Meanwhile, Nilphamari Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (revenue) Shahinur Alam said: "We have instructed all Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and assistant commissioners (land) to identify the rivers threatened by encroachment.
"Other than that, the district commission and Water Development Board have taken a joint initiative to excavate and protect the rivers," he added. "Some of these rivers are being re-excavated, while others have been tendered."
