THE lean season low flows of the rivers in Bangladesh have progressively been creating more and more hazards in recent years. Every year, in recent times, the depths of water of the rivers have been found to be lower than that of the year before. This trend has been there for a long time. Winter is nearing for the country and the concern about the navigability of the rivers will be heightened again soon.
The rivers are by far the cheapest routes of transport of goods in bulk in Bangladesh. They also facilitate the carrying of a substantial number of passengers who regularly travel long distances. In the backdrop of the economic importance of keeping the rivers navigable, very little has been done over the years to this end.