Future looks bleak for waterways of world's largest delta

The future of Bangladesh's famed rivers and waterways remains critically endangered as water management policies at home and abroad continue to pose a dire threat to the largest river delta in the world.

The result: rivers radically changing course in a matter of years, excessive siltation and an impossible scenario regarding flood control initiatives.

Domestic inertia has combined with ill-conceived policies to leave a network of badly designed drainage and irrigation structures, unfettered dumping of toxic industrial waste and other pollutants as well as ongoing encroachment.

River experts fear that without immediate and concerted action these factors will leave Bangladesh's river systems virtually lifeless. Director general of the Water Resource Planning Organisation, Muhammad Inamul Huq, told bdnews24.com that the Karotoa, Ichhamoti, Bhairab and Kaliganga rivers have almost totally dried up.

"This is largely because they changed their courses in the recent past. Such rivers now number about 12," said Huq. The WARPO director general said approximately 18 rivers today face extinction due to siltation at their sources.

more from the Independent of Bangladesh