River erosion to ease due to more sediment flow

According to the expert, Maminul Haque Sarker, although the Jamuna had eroded 82,000 hectares of lands in past 30 years, only 12,000 hectares of land were accreted (land lifted from river) during the period.

He showed data that against 1,000 hectares of accretion in 15 years (1984-99), the Padma had devoured 26,000 hectares of land and against 500 hectares of accretion in 10 years (1990-99), the Meghna had eroded 11,500 hectares.

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The Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), an independent analysis wing of the water resources ministry, organised the seminar at the BRAC Centre.

Presenting a paper at the seminar on the morphological evolution of Jamuna, Padma and Meghna, the morphologist said rivers tend to erode riverbanks when flow of sediment from upstream decreases.

According to Sarker, dearth of sediment from upstream accelerates the celerity of down-bound water in sloppy and braided rivers, resulting in massive bank erosion.

"The braided river-systems of Bangladesh annually erodes large areas of floodplains making thousands of people homeless. Severe bank retreat associated with widening of the major rivers has caused great sufferings," said Sarkar.

Dr Ainun Nishat, water resources expert and country representative of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), stressed on further studies on the behaviours and courses of rivers.

Director General of the Water Resources Planning Organisation (WARPO) Dr Mosaddak Faruq and Executive Director of CEGIS Dr Riaz Khan also spoke at the seminar.