Karnaphuli changes its course, narrows to half | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
December 07, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2023
Karnaphuli changes its course, narrows to half

Bangladesh

Abu Azad
22 May, 2022, 10:30 pm
Last modified: 23 May, 2022, 11:16 am

Related News

  • Bangabandhu Tunnel toll collection tops Tk4.4 lakh in first 12 hrs
  • A catalyst for economic transformation in southern Chattogram
  • HC clears way to free Karnaphuli River banks from encroachers
  • Rancon Group donates TK2.75 crore to families of FV Magferath
  • Oil tanker gets stuck in river Karnaphuli amid dense fog

Karnaphuli changes its course, narrows to half

Shah Amanat Bridge under threat

Abu Azad
22 May, 2022, 10:30 pm
Last modified: 23 May, 2022, 11:16 am
Karnaphuli changes its course, narrows to half

A survey of the Karnaphuli River, the lifeline waterway of the port city, finds it changing course with its two north tributaries accumulating sand, its flow interrupted by the pillars of the Shah Amanat Bridge in Southern Chattogram.

The depth of the river has come down to 7.7 feet between pillar-1 and pillar-2 on the north side under the bridge, which was once over 25 feet, while the depth tripled to 78.6 feet on the south side, between pillar-4 and pillar-5, narrowing the river to less than half its earlier size, the survey found.

Initiated by river campaigners of the Karnaphuli River and Canal Protection Movement, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology University Civil Engineering Department, Professor Dr Swapan Kumar Palit, Karnaphuli expert, Professor Idris Ali, and Marine Fisheries Academy Bangladesh Professor, Noman Ahmad Siddiki, conducted the survey from 1 March to 30 April this year. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

According to the survey, the width of the river has now come down to 410 metres from 930.31 metres in 2000, meaning that 520 metres of the river disappeared in 22 years. Land has emerged as char areas, where various types of establishments such as fish markets, ice factories and slums have been established. 

"A large portion of the river filled up on the northern side under the bridge, making a sharp flow to the south," Professor Noman Ahmed, who led the survey, told The Business Standard.

"If the riverbed is not dredged immediately, and the water flow brought back to normal, the bridge [Shah Amanat] at risk of collapsing," he added.

"Sand from two tributaries is accumulating and filling up the riverbed there," said Swapan Kumar palit. 

Former Chattogram City Corporation mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury once led a movement for a hanging bridge on the Karnaphuli River instead of the then proposed pillar-backed Shah Amanat Bridge, fearing the disruption in water flow on this waterway lifeline. 

Such damage to the river also took place after building the Kalurghat Bridge back in 1930; it created a large char, now familiar as Kulagaon Char, in the middle of the river. 

After 80 years, the government built the third Karnaphuli bridge at Tk380 crore and named it after 18th century Sufi Muslim figure Shah Amanat.

According to the survey, the gradual change in the river direction threatens to bring down the bridge, the only means of communication between Chattogram and nearby districts Cox's Bazar and Bandarban.

However, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) denies any such risk to the bridge collapsing.

"We have recently visited the bridge," Mohammad Jahed Hossain, RHD chief engineer for Chattogram division, told The Business Standard.

"We found it all okay. None of the pillars of the bridge appeared to be at risk." There was 255 feet of piling in the 78 feet deep portion of the river, he added.

The depth was found normal, from 24 to 25 feet on average, in Patharghata, Firingi Bazar and Bridgeghat, as the authorities were dredging the areas on a regular basis, while it was abnormal in the areas of the Chaktai and Rajakhali estuaries.   

In the Chaktai estuary, the north side river was gauged only 2 feet deep, midpoint 13.6 feet, and south side 48 feet. 

The midpoint depth was only 7 feet in the Rajakhali estuary, but it was found to be 60.9 feet under the Shah Amanat bridge, which means the riverbed has lost its normal shape and form.

Top News

Karnafuli River

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Nov LCs settlements rise on deferred payment pressure
    Nov LCs settlements rise on deferred payment pressure
  • Buyer's rep removes sanction clause from RMG LC
    Buyer's rep removes sanction clause from RMG LC
  • TBS Illustration.
    Sustainable financing falls 8% in Jul-Sep as CMSME, agri investment dips

MOST VIEWED

  • Bangladeshi RMG exporters alarmed as buyers tag conditions over trade restriction fears
    Bangladeshi RMG exporters alarmed as buyers tag conditions over trade restriction fears
  • Illustration: TBS
    Troubled banks categorised, new deposits, loans barred for weakest
  • A portion of the 100-kilometre Dohazari to Cox's Bazar railway line. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
    Another Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar train set for launch on 1 Jan
  • File Photo of the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas. Photo: Collected
    US Ambassador Peter Haas holds meeting with Biman officials
  • Bank deposits in Bangladesh surge on higher interest, lower investment
    Bank deposits in Bangladesh surge on higher interest, lower investment
  • Photo: AFP
    Bangladesh lose 4 wickets after decent start in first session

Related News

  • Bangabandhu Tunnel toll collection tops Tk4.4 lakh in first 12 hrs
  • A catalyst for economic transformation in southern Chattogram
  • HC clears way to free Karnaphuli River banks from encroachers
  • Rancon Group donates TK2.75 crore to families of FV Magferath
  • Oil tanker gets stuck in river Karnaphuli amid dense fog

Features

Hamas-Israel war: What really happened on 7 October?

Hamas-Israel war: What really happened on 7 October?

14h | Panorama
UN workers arrive to distribute aid to Palestinians, who have fled their homes due to Israeli strikes and take shelter in a UN-run school, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on 23 October 2023. Photo: Reuters

When UN and its agencies lack much agency

14h | Panorama
Sketch: TBS

How Khan Farhana built a 300,000-strong LinkedIn community

1d | Pursuit
Photo: Courtesy

Fostering emotional intelligence and classroom harmony: The power of a complaint box

1d | Pursuit

More Videos from TBS

Israeli troops surround home of Hamas chief: Netanyahu

Israeli troops surround home of Hamas chief: Netanyahu

51m | TBS World
Santos relegated for first time in 111-year history

Santos relegated for first time in 111-year history

1h | TBS SPORTS
Deepening dollar crisis in Bangladesh: Unveiling causes

Deepening dollar crisis in Bangladesh: Unveiling causes

3h | TBS Round Table
Current account surplus drops by 80% in one month

Current account surplus drops by 80% in one month

5h | TBS Economy
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net