In Nilphamari district of northern Bangladesh, nearly 40 rivers have become waterless or nearly dead due to severe water shortages and siltation. The Water Development Board reports that these rivers, once navigable and vital for transport and fishing, now have depths of only three to five feet. Farmers are cultivating crops such as boro rice, maize, tobacco, garlic, and onion on the dried riverbeds. Experts attribute the crisis to unilateral water withdrawal by India and the construction of the Gajoldoba Barrage upstream on the Teesta River, which has drastically reduced water flow.

The drying of rivers has caused widespread environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and severe hardship for fishing communities. Over 50,000 fisher families are reportedly living in distress as fish populations have declined sharply. The Water Development Board has proposed dredging projects to restore navigability, but these remain stalled due to lack of approval. Local residents and officials are calling for national-level studies and coordinated action to revive the rivers and prevent recurring floods during monsoon seasons.

Agricultural experts warn that unplanned groundwater extraction and climate change are further threatening the region’s agriculture and ecology, turning former wetlands into farmland and accelerating biodiversity loss.