Kurigram: Baromasia River, once a perennial waterway supporting local livelihoods, has been reduced to a mere crop field, sparking demands for its revival among the local community. The river, historically known for its year-round flow, has seen a drastic reduction in water, transforming into an arable land.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, parts of the river have been leased by the fisheries department for pisciculture, categorizing it as a closed water body or beel. This transformation stands in stark contrast to its past, when boats traversed its waters and fishing was a common occupation among locals. The Baromasia River, originating from a lake in Indian Cooch Behar district, enters Bangladesh through the Gorkamandap border of Phulbari upazila in Kurigram, and joins the Dharla River in the Sonaikaji area.
Locals attribute the river's demise to a lack of dredging and climate change, which have merged it with the surrounding plain land. The negligence of authorities, they say, is a major factor, as the river hasn't been identified in any government survey post-British rule and is not listed among the 54 recognized transboundary rivers from India to Bangladesh.
Kabirul Islam, a local farmer, expressed hope for a bountiful harvest of brinjal cultivated on the river's char, while Abu Hanif noted the river's lean state has forced fishermen to seek alternative livelihoods. Transportation challenges and the loss of homes due to river erosion are additional issues faced by the community.
The Phulbari Upazila Agriculture Office reports that approximately 15,000 hectares of arable land in the river basin, including areas around the Baromasia and Dharla, are under cultivation, yielding three crops annually. Shahidul Islam, a local union parishad member, criticized the fishery office for leasing the river for fish farming, thereby restricting access for local fishermen.
Dr. Tuhin Wadud, from the NGO Riverine People, emphasized the need for the river's recognition as a transboundary waterway and suggested that scientific dredging could restore its flow. Naodanga Union Parishad Chairman Hasen Ali highlighted the unemployment caused by the river's decline, urging government intervention.
Rakibul Hasan, Executive Engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board, acknowledged the river's inclusion in the local river list and mentioned ongoing considerations for potential actions regarding smaller rivers.