The study paints a dire picture: once thriving river systems have now been reduced to narrow trickles or barren beds, incapable of supporting the communities and ecosystems that have depended on them for centuries.

In the water-rich nation of Bangladesh, rivers are more than just flowing bodies of water—they are the veins of the land, sustaining agriculture, biodiversity, culture, and commerce. But today, the country faces a sobering reality: its rivers are drying up, one by one.

A new study from the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) has revealed that 81 rivers have either dried up or become critically silted during the dry season, posing what experts are calling an ecological emergency. The report, “Dried-up Rivers of Bangladesh,” warns that the nation’s sprawling river system — once a source of prosperity — is now under siege from climate change, pollution, and unplanned development.

The crisis is unfolding across the country, but regions like Khulna, Satkhira, Rajshahi, and Kushtia are the hardest hit. In Khulna alone, 25 rivers are severely affected. Rajshahi and Rangpur follow closely behind with 20 and 15 rivers respectively facing similar fates.

From iconic rivers like the Teesta, Atrai, and Chitra to lesser-known streams such as Kholpetua, Hishna, and Kakshiali, the list is long and distressing. The study paints a dire picture: once thriving river systems have now been reduced to narrow trickles or barren beds, incapable of supporting the communities and ecosystems that have depended on them for centuries.

“This deterioration poses a serious threat to livelihoods, agriculture, and biodiversity,” the RDRC warned. “It underscores the vital role rivers play in sustaining both ecosystems and human communities.”

Lives in the Balance

Experts attribute the rapid disappearance of rivers to a toxic cocktail of factors—unchecked urban expansion, industrial pollution, sedimentation, and over-extraction of water. All of these are compounded by climate change, which has made rainfall more erratic, dried up groundwater tables, and increased temperatures.

Perhaps most concerning is the stress on the Brahmaputra-Jamuna-Meghna (BGM) basin, the central artery of Bangladesh’s water system. Upstream dams and water diversions from neighboring countries are restricting flow, leaving millions who rely on these rivers for fishing, farming, and daily use in jeopardy.

“As water levels become unpredictable, entire communities are struggling,” the study noted. “The impact goes beyond humans — it’s damaging wildlife, destroying habitats, and disrupting the natural balance.”

For those who depend on the rivers, the consequences are already visible.

In Rangpur, smallholder farmer Abdul Jalil recounts how the Bhulli River, once a dependable source of irrigation, has vanished in parts. “Now, we can’t grow rice the way we used to. We dig wells, but the water is salty or too deep. The river is gone, and with it, our crops,” he said.

In places like Kushtia and Rajshahi, boatmen and fisherfolk face a similar plight. Without navigable waters, trade routes have dried up, fishing grounds have vanished, and the traditional livelihoods of entire communities are under threat.

Wildlife has not been spared either. Wetland ecosystems are collapsing, with fish populations declining and migratory birds abandoning former habitats. “This is an ecological chain reaction,” said an RDRC researcher. “When rivers die, everything connected to them suffers.”

A Push for Climate Resilience

Acknowledging the magnitude of the crisis, high-level talks were held at Pani Bhaban in Dhaka last week between UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis and Bangladesh’s Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. The two leaders called for immediate climate action and a shift from planning to implementation.

“While analysis is useful, we now need to prioritize climate action, even if it begins with just two or three catalytic projects,” Rizwana said. Her call for action centered around restoring river ecosystems, improving water governance, and promoting regional collaboration on transboundary river management.

Key initiatives include divisional river restoration campaigns, canal rehabilitation efforts, and grassroots execution of Bangladesh’s Delta Plan — a long-term framework designed to ensure sustainable water and land management in the face of climate change.

Bangladesh’s vast river network spans over 24,000 kilometers of rivers, canals, and streams. Yet in the dry season, only 3,800 kilometers remain navigable, a sharp drop from 6,000 kilometers during the monsoon.

To reverse this trajectory, the RDRC recommends a combination of pollution control, erosion prevention, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. But as the study notes, domestic efforts are not enough. Many of the country’s rivers originate beyond its borders, meaning regional diplomacy is crucial to addressing upstream diversions and ensuring equitable water sharing.

“Bangladesh must engage in regional cooperation with upstream countries,” the RDRC urged. “Only through joint efforts can we ensure these rivers continue to sustain people and nature for generations to come.”

A River Runs Through It — For Now

As Bangladesh faces the realities of climate change, its rivers stand as both a symbol and a casualty of the environmental crisis. Their disappearance is not just a loss of water — it is the loss of culture, history, and survival for millions.

But there is still time to act.

With coordinated governance, public participation, and international partnerships, Bangladesh can chart a path toward climate resilience and river revival, say an expert.

“After all, in a country shaped and sustained by rivers, saving them may be the only way to save itself.”