Riverine Bangladesh

Bangladesh is called the land of rivers or the gift of rivers. Almost 300 small and big rivers and their tributaries criss-cross the country. The outflow of water from Bangladesh is the third highest in the world, next only to those of the Amazon and the Congo systems. Major rivers are the Padma, the Meghna, the Jamuna, the Brahmaputra and the Karnaphuli. They are an inseparable part of the lives of the people and can bring both happiness and sorrow when there are floods. Most of the time, they make farmers happy by fertilizing the soil.

Many poems, songs and novels have been written on the rivers and their role in the lives of the Bangladeshi people. Some of the rivers are regarded as more poetic because of the nature of their flow and their effect on the countryside. The mighty river Ganges flowing from the Gangotri Glacier enters Bangladesh from the northwest through the Rajshahi division. It meets the Brahmaputra in the centre of the country. The Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers take new names as they pass into Bangladesh. The Ganges takes the name of Padma while the Brahmaputra is known as Jamuna.

Tourists are sure to enjoy the riverine beauty of Bangladesh: the various types of boats plying smoothly to the rhythm of waves; and the sky and the river meeting in a spectacular sunset. Relaxing on the riverbank they can easily forget the bustle and anxieties of city life for a while.