Bangladesh’s Jamuna River in the Bogura region is facing severe navigability problems due to reduced water flow from India. Local sources report that eight river routes have already been closed this dry season, disrupting transport and increasing hardship for residents. Sandbars have emerged across the river, making navigation nearly impossible and isolating communities dependent on river transport.

Officials from the Water Development Board said the Jamuna’s average depth has dropped from about 9.5 meters to around 2 meters, largely due to dam construction in upstream countries including India and China. The river’s Bangladesh section spans 220 kilometers of its total 4,000-kilometer length. Local boatmen and leaseholders said even small boats now struggle to move, affecting livelihoods in 141 riverine villages with over 200,000 people.

Authorities acknowledged the crisis, noting that while the Bangali River is under a dredging program, no such project exists for the Jamuna. Engineers warned that continued upstream water control could turn the region into a desert-like area unless natural water flow is restored.