National Culture

and Heritage
Delta and Rivers of
Bengal,
Rivers and Boats in
Cultural Context

DELTA
The 4th letter of the Greek alphabet

D
An area of land shaped like a
triangle, where a river is split into
several smaller rivers before entering
the sea. A geological formation.

DELTA
A delta is an important landform
produced by the deposit of clay, silt
and sand at the mouth of a river
where the stream loses its velocity
and drops part of its sediment load
carried from the upper stream.

DELTA
No delta is formed if the coast is
sinking or if there is an ocean or tidal
current strong enough to prevent
sediment deposition.
This process of building up is
complex, and leads to the formation
of a number of separate CHANNELS
and distributaries, isolated lagoons,
marshy land, and a network of small
creeks.

DELTA
It exhibits tremendous variation in
their morphological and
sedimentological characteristics and
also in their mode of origin.

Bengal Delta
The Bengal Delta lies on the eastern
side of the Indian subcontinent and
covers most of Bangladesh and West
Bengal of India. Ancient and modern
deltaic plains cover about 65% of
Bangladesh and the remaining 35%
is alluvial plain and hilly terrain. The
Bengal Delta is one of the most
densely populated areas in the world.

Bengal Delta
Two Himalayan Rivers, the Ganges
and the Brahmaputra, which drain to
the Bay of Bengal as a combined
river, carry the largest sediment
load. These two rivers together with
another non-Himalayan river, the
Meghna, have built one of the largest
deltas in the world known as the
Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta or the
Bengal Delta.

RIVER
River is a long watercourse that flows
down a slope along a bed between
banks. It originates from a source
and culminates to a sea or lake at its
mouth. Along its length smaller rivers
called tributaries may join it. A river
and its tributaries form a river
system.

RIVER
Significance in early human
settlements: a. Sites of major
prehistoric communities; and b.
Importance of rivers to the rise of
urban centres.
Socio-cultural development
associated with river.

RIVER
Significance to trade, agriculture and
industry: a. Large-scale channel
improvement and stabilization
projects for port use; b. Irrigation use
of river water; c. Hydro-electric
power generation; and d. Freshwater
fisheries.

Environmental Problems
Environmental problems associated
with river-use:
1. Contamination by chemicals;
2. Municipal and industrial wastes;
and
3. Thermal pollution.

Significance in early human

settlements
The inner valleys of some great alluvial rivers contain
the sites of ancestral permanent settlements,
including pioneer cities. Sedentary settlement in
Hither Asia began about 10,000 years ago at the site
of Ariha (Ancient Jericho). Similar settlement in the
Tigris-Euphrates and Nile valleys dates back to at
least 6000 BP (years before present).
Civilization in the Indus Valley, prominently
represented at Mahenjodaro, dates from about 4500
BP, while civilization in the Ganges valley can be
traced to approximately 3000 BP.

River and Drainage System of

Bangladesh
The rivers of Bangladesh are very extensive
and distinguish both the physiography of the
country and the life of the people. The country
is called a land of rivers as it has about 700
rivers including tributaries. The total length of
all rivers, STEARMS, creeks and channels is
about 24,140 km. In terms of catchment size,
river length and volume it discharge, some of
these rivers are amongst the largest on the
earth.

River and Drainage System of

Bangladesh
Usually the rivers flow south and
serve as the main source of water for
irrigation and as the principal
arteries of commercial
transportation. The rivers also
provide fresh-water fish, an
important source of protein. A large
segment of population is thus
engaged in the fishing sector.

RIVERBANK EROSION
On the other hand, widespread
RIVERBANK EROSION and regular
flooding of the major rivers cause
enormous hardship and destruction of
resources and hinders development.
But it is also true to say that the river
system bring a huge volume of new
silt to replenish the natural fertility of
the agricultural land.

SEDIMENTS to BAY OF BENGAL

Moreover, the enormous volume of
SEDIMENTS that the rivers carry to
the BAY OF BENGAL each year
(approximately 2.4 billion tons)
builds new land along the sea front,
keeping hope alive for future
extension of settlement.

MONSOON and River

Networks
Finally, during the MONSOON, rivers also
drain excess discharge to the Bay. Thus
this great river system is the countrys
principal resource as well as its greatest
hazard. The system can be divided into
four major networks: (1) BrahmaputraJamuna river system, (2) Ganges- Padma
river system, (3) Surma- Meghna river
system, and (4) Chittagong region river
system.

Country Boats
The country boats are traditional and
popular means of transport in
riverine Bangladesh. These are
ancient, low cost and convenient in
the floodplains, especially in HAORS
and BAORS.

Country Boats
There are more then 150 types of
boats. They vary in size, design and
construction and serve a host of
purposes. A general typology may
group boats into small (having a
carrying capacity of less then 3000
kg) and large categories.

Country Boats
Small rowing boats like canoes, dug-outs
and dingis are used for ferrying across
narrow rivers mainly in rural areas for
transporting people and private
belongings, for household and
agricultural purposes and for fishing by
individuals. Medium and large boats are
used for carrying cargo, ferrying
passengers and fishing in coastal and
offshore waters.

Country Boats
Many such boats as well as boats in
commercial operation and cargo
boats include types such as sampan,
balam, trawler and jali (sulluk). They
are now mostly power driven. The
Nouka Baich (Boat Race) is an
important folk game of Bangladesh.