RIVER SYSTEMS

OF
BANGLADESH
 PRESENTED BY

 Md. Maksudul Hossain Bhuyan

(2017135084)
 Tasin Abrar Nahin
(2016135038)
 RIVER SYSTEM

The pride of Bangladesh is her waterways. The large network of rivers, streams and canals which total
at least twenty four thousand kilometres in length. Bangladesh has nearly 700 big & small rivers which
have a total length of about 24140 km. Such as Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Padma, Meghna, etc. So river
system influence the pattern of our life.
There are four major river systems in our country-
Brahmaputra-Jamuna River System
Ganges-Padma River System
Surma-Meghna River System
Mountain River System
1. BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM
 1. BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM

The floodplain and the Pleistocene terraces almost completely cover two of the six administrative
divisions of the country, Rajshahi and Dhaka
Among the major rivers, Brahmaputra-Jamuna is the most energetic and has the highest stream power
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna River, Bangladesh, is one of the world's great rivers, ranking in the top three
in terms of both sediment and water discharge
Total length- 2850 Km
Length of Jamuna- 276 km
Length of upper course (Brahmaputra)- 2574 km
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna drains the northern and eastern slopes of the Himalayas, and has a catchment
area of 5,83,000 sq km
 BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM

1.1 ORIGIN
 The Brahmaputra River is the second
Origination of Brahmaputra
largest river in Bangladesh. It is
originated as Yarlung River from Mount
Kailash in the northern Himalayas.

 Latitude: 23°53’45’’

 Longitude: 90°50’55’’
 BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM
1.2 COURSE

• It flows in the east as Yarlung river and bends

around Namcha Barwa. Then it flows
through the dense forests and tribal
settlements. The river enters in Arunchal
Pradesh of India and then it flows about 35
Km. Then it is joined by two other major
rivers like Dibang and Lohit. From this
convergence it is called Brahmaputra.
BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM

Then It enters into Asam. Finally it enters into

Bangladesh through Nageshwari-Roumari Upazila of
Kurigram. After that it flows into Dewangonj upazilla of
Jamalpur and here it is called Jamuna.

Shape of Jamuna
 BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM

Tributaries Distributaries

 Dudhkumar  Old Brahmaputra

 Dharla  Dhaleshwari

 Tista
 Karotoa-Atrai(Hurasagar)
 Bangali
 BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM
• Tista
• Length: 309km
• Width: 39m
• Passes through Rangpur
• Bangali
• Length: Nearly 34Km
• Flows 400-2100 cusec water annually
• Passes through Bogra
• Dharla
• Average depth 3.7 meters, maximum 12 meters
• Passes through Lalmonirhat, Patgram Upazilla, Kurigam etc
 BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER SYSTEM

• Dhaleshwari
• Length: 160km
• Average depth 37m, maximum 81m
• Flows through Mymensingh & Dhaka
• Old Bramhaputra
• Length: 276km
• Flows through Mymensingh
2.GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM

Total length of GANGES –PADMA river system is 2600 km.

The PADMA is 120 km. long and 4-8 km wide.

Catchment area of approximately 907,000 sq. km.

Total drainage area is 1,087,400 sq. km. In Bangladesh it is 46,000 sq km.

The recorded highest flow is 760,000 Cumec in 1981.

Average discharge of the river is about 12,00,000 Cu ft/s.

Its maximum depth is 1571 feet (479m.) and the average depth is 968 feet (295m.)
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM

• 2.1 ORIGIN
• Ganges-Padma is one of the largest
and the most important river of the
Indian subcontinent. It is originated as
Ganges from the Gangotri Glacier
(Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand,
India) of the Himalaya .The mighty
river Ganges enters Bangladesh
through its north western side and
change its name to Padma
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM
• 2.2 COURSE
• Entering Bangladesh at Manakosa and Durlabhpur in the district of Chapai Nababganj, the
Ganges is officially referred to as the Padma and the river Bhagirathi uses the name of Ganga.
• Further downstream, in Goalando, 2200 km away from the source, the Padma is joined by the
mighty Jamuna (Lower Brahmaputra) and the resulting combination flows with the name Padma
further east, to Chandpur. Here, the widest river in Bangladesh, the Meghna, joins the Padma,
• Continuing as the Meghna almost in a straight line to the south, ending in the Bay of Bengal.
• At the bay the Meghna estuary measures 30 km (20 mi) wide.
GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM

Major Tributaries
Major Tributaries
(Padma River)

• MOHANANDA
• PAGLA
• TANGON
• PUNARVABA
• KULIK
• ECHAMATI
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM
Mahananda River Punarvaba river

 Length 36 kilometers (22 mi) in Bangladesh.  Total length 160 km, width of 3–8 km. and

 Flows through Panchagarh for 3 kilometers after mean depth 1.96 meters

Tentulia and returns to India.  Originates from the lowlands of

Thakurgaon District
 Flows through Dinajpur (80 km) and
Rajshahi (80 km)
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM

Major Distributaries
• Kumar • Pasur
• Bhairab • Rupsa
• Madhumati • Bharda
• Mathabhanga
• Bishkhali, etc.
• Arial Khan
• Gorai
• Chitra
• Nabaganga
• Kobadak

Major Distributaries of Padma River

 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM

Kumar River Gorai River

The total length of the river is about 162  Length 386-kilometres

km.  The nearly dead rivers are Hisna,

The average width of the river is about 107 Kaliganga, Kumar, Hamkumra, Harihar

meters and the later part is about 230 and Chitra.

meters

Madhu Mati River

 Total length 306 km

 Its upper course is called Garai, lower

course is Baleswar
 GANGES-PADMA RIVER SYSTEM

River Length (km) Covered area (km)

Arial Khan 160 Faridpur (102) & Barisal (58)
Bhadra 193 Jessore (58) & Khulna (135)
Mathabhanga 156 Rajshahi (16) & Kushtia (140)

Chitra 170 Kushtia (19) & Jessore (151)

Nabaganga 230 Kushtia (16) & Jessore (204)

Kobadak 260 Jessore (80) & Khulna (180)

3. SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
 Surma-Meghna River System is one of the four major river systems of Bangladesh. It is the longest
river (669 km) system in the country. It is situated in the East of Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system

The total length of the Surma-Meghna is about 670 km. The Lower Meghna-160 km. The
length of the Upper Meghna- 510 km is measured up to Chandpur.

Meghna is the widest among those rivers that flow among the boundaries of Bangladesh.

 North of Shatnol, the Meghna is about 5 kilometers wide

 At one point of Bhola,Meghna is 12 kilometers wide.

The river's average depth is 308 meters and maximum depth is 490 meters. In the origin
of Hatiya and Bhola, the deepest point is the Meghna River Creek, it reaches 609 meters.
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
• 3.1 Origin
• The river system originated from Barrak river, which originated in the ridge and valley terrain of
Naga-Manipur hills bordering Myanmar. Barak-Meghna has a length of 950 km of which 340 km
lies within Bangladesh. On reaching the border with Bangladesh at Amalshid in Sylhet district,
Barak divided to form the steep and highly flashy rivers Surma and Kushiara.
• The channel from Ajmiriganj down to the confluence with the Dhanu is referred to as Surma.
• This confluence is five kilometers east of Kuliarchar and north of Bhairab bazar. Downstream from
this point, the river is referred to as the Meghna.
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
• 3.2 Course

• Surma flows north-east & west to Sunamganj town from where it maintains a course south-west &
then south to Madna, where it meets the kushiyara branch.

• The Meghna has two distinct parts.

• The Upper Meghna from Kuliarchar to Shatnol is a comparatively small river.

• The Lower Meghna below Shatnol is one of the largest rivers in the world because of its wide
estuary mouth. The Lower Meghna is at times treated as a separate river.

• 16 kilometers from Shatnol, the combined flow of the Ganges and Brahmaputra-Jamuna, known as
the padma, meets the Meghna at a 11 km wide confluence in the rainy season near Chandpur. From
this point southwards the Meghna is marked as the Lower Meghna, becoming one of the broadest
rivers and largest estuaries in the world.
SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM

• Meghna river
• Meghna is formed inside Bangladesh in Kishoreganj District above the town of Bhairab Bazar by the joining of
the Surma and the Kushiyara.
• The Meghna meets its major tributary, the Padma, in Chandpur District. Other major tributaries of the Meghna
include the Dhaleshwari, the Gumti, and the Feni.
• The Meghna empties into the Bay of Bengal in Bhola District via four principal mouths, named Tetulia (Ilsha),
Shahbazpur, Hatia, and Bamni.
• The Meghna is the widest river among those that flow completely inside the boundaries of Bangladesh. At a
point near Bhola, Meghna is 12 km wide. In its lower reaches this river follows almost a straight line in its path.
• The Meghna has two distinct parts.
• The Upper Meghna from Kuliarchar to Shatnol is a comparatively small river.
• The Lower Meghna below Shatnol is one of the largest rivers in the world because of its wide estuary mouth. It
is at times treated as a separate river.
SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM

Upper Meghna Lower Meghna

 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
• SURMA River
• Starts when the Barak River from northeast India divides at the Bangladesh border into the Surma and the
Kushiyara rivers.
• The average depth of river is 282 feet (86 m) and maximum depth is 550 feet (170 m).
• Surma flows west and then southwest to Sylhet town. From there it flows northwest and west to
Sunamganj town. Then it maintains a course southwest and then south to Markuli to meet Kushiyara. The
joint course flows upto Bhairab Bazar as the Kalni. Flowing north of the Sylhet basin, Surma receives
tributaries from Khasi and Jaintia Hills. East to west they are Lubha, Hari, Goyain Gang, Bogapani,
Jadukata, Shomeshwari, Kangsa and Mogra. Surma divides south of Mohanganj soon after it receives
Kangsa and further south the Mogra. The western channel is known as Dhanu in its upper course, Boulai
in the middle and Ghorautra lower down.
• It joins Kalni near Bhairab Bazar of Kishoreganj district and the name Meghna is given to the course from
here to the Bay of Bengal.
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
•

Surma River and Upper Meghna river

 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM

Tributaries Distributaries

 Kushiyara  Titas
 Gumti  Shitolokha
 Dakatia  Kalni
 Monu  Sonaiburi
 Harimongol
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
Kushiyara
• Kushiyara receives left bank tributaries from
tripura hills, the principal ones being Manu,
north of Maulvi Bazar town and bifurcates
into northern channel, the Bibiyana and a
southern one, which resumes the original
name, Barak
Gumti
• Its length is 60 km from Maynamati to
Kompaniganj. The river originates from
Tripura state enters through Comilla and
meets with Meghna in Daudkandi
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM

Dakatia Monu

• It originates from Tripura hills and enters • This originates from Mountains of Tripura
through Comilla and meets with Meghna in and it meets with Kushiyara in Moulvibazar.
Chandpur
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
Kalni
• Kushiyara receives left bank tributaries from
tripura hills, the principal ones being Manu,
north of Maulvi Bazar town and divides into
northern channel, the Bibiyana and a
southern one, which resumes the original
name, Barak. Bibiyana changes its name to
Kalni lower down its course and joins Surma
near Ajmiriganj.
Titas
• The river originates from the hills of Tripura
State in India. Flowing west near Agartala
(India), it enters Bangladesh through Akhaura
and falls into the Meghna river south of
Ashuganj. The total length of the river is
about 98 km.
 SURMA-MEGHNA RIVER SYSTEM
Kalni
• Kushiyara receives left bank tributaries from
tripura hills, the principal ones being Manu,
north of Maulvi Bazar town and divides into
northern channel, the Bibiyana and a
southern one, which resumes the original
name, Barak. Bibiyana changes its name to
Kalni lower down its course and joins Surma
near Ajmiriganj.
Titas
• The river originates from the hills of Tripura
State in India. Flowing west near Agartala
(India), it enters Bangladesh through Akhaura
and falls into the Meghna river south of
Ashuganj. The total length of the river is
about 98 km.
4. MOUNTAIN RIVER SYSTEM
 MOUNTAIN RIVER SYSTEM

• A mountain river is a river that runs usually in mountains, in narrow, deep valley with steep
banks, rocky stream bed, and accumulated rock debris.
• Mountain rivers are characterized by high slope and flow velocity, insignificant depth, frequent
rapids and waterfalls, as well as dominated washed out processes. The gradient of a mountain
river is calculated at 60–80 m/km in upper stream and 5–10 m/km in lower. More precisely it is
greater than or equal to 0.002 m/m along most of its stream length. Speed of stream is
measured at 1 to 4.5 m/s and higher.
 MOUNTAIN RIVER SYSTEM

• In Bangladesh, the Chittagong Hill Tracts is the only major Mountain region

• Mountain rivers are found in Chittagong Hill Tract area, such as

1.Feni
2.Halda
3.Karnaphuli
4.Matamuhuri
5.Sangu
6.Muhuri
7.Naf river etc.
MOUNTAIN RIVER SYSTEM
 MOUNTAIN RIVER SYSTEM

FENI RIVER KARNAPHULI RIVER

• Originated from hill ranges of the • Originated from the Lushai Hills in Mizoram,
Indian state of Tripura at 23°20΄N and
India
91˚47΄E
• It flows southwest through Chittagong Hill
• It flows through southwest of
Tracts and Chittagong into the Bay of Bengal.
Chittagong Hill Tracts, then flows
west up to Aliganj and then emerges • Length 270 km, Width 667 meters
out of the hills and passes through the
• Kaptai Hydro-Power station constructed in
plains dividing Chittagong from
1962
Noakhali before falling into the Bay of
Bengal at 22°50΄N and 91°27΄E • Produces 230 MW electricity
• River length 116 km • Tributaries- Thega, Ringkheong, Kaptai,
• 80.5 km is navigable by small boats Ichhamati, Sajjak, Horina, Chengi etc
 MOUNTAIN RIVER SYSTEM
HALDA RIVER
 Originated at the Badnatali Hill
Ranges, Ramgarh upazila, Chittagong
Hill Tracts
 Flows through Fatikchhari, Hathazari,
Raozan & Chittagong Kotwali Thana
and falls into the Karnaphuli river
 Length 81 km
 Depth 21-30 feet
 Tributary- Dhurung river
Sangu river
 Sangu river has its source at in the
North Arakan Hills (21°13΄N & 92°37΄E)
 It flows west across the Bandarban and
finally falls into the Bay of Bengal at
22°6΄N and 91°51΄E
 Length 270 km
 It is navigable upto 48.27 km
 Tributaries- Dolukhal, Hungor,
Tankawati
 Matamuhuri
North Arakan Hills
Source
(21°14΄N & 92°36΄E). South
of the Sangu river
Flows northwest in the Hill
Tracts and enters Cox’s
Course
Bazar district from the east.
Flowing west it falls into the
Bay of Bengal (21°45΄N &
91°57΄E)
Length 287 km
Data
Muhuri Naf
It is rised on the Lushai It rises in the Arakan
Hills of Tripura in India Hills on the
southeastern borders
of the Cox’sbazar
Flows Bangladesh Flows into the Bay of
through Parshuram Bengal through cox’s
upazila, Feni after bazar district
flowing over the hilly
regions of. At some
places it demarcates the
boundary between India
and Bangladesh, and falls
into the Bay of Bengal
Length nearly 53 km, Length 27 km, width
width 150-200 meters 1.61-3.22 km,
Depth 128-400 feet
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