Bangladesh’s Grand Jamuna River
A braided river or stream is distinguished by various features such as sandbars located within the river as well as a network of channels and other water sources intertwining with the stream. Bangladesh is home to just such a river and it happens to be one of the main rivers in the country. The Jamuna River is one of the best examples of a braided river, as it has an extremely intricate network of interlinking waterways. It also has a very fragile existence, as do most braided rivers.
Channel migrations are highly common in braided rivers, and they suffer great loss of soil during floods or any change of water flow that the river might sustain. The sandbars that are found in the rivers, known a chars in Bangladesh, move as the river flows and are deposited in various positions. Especially after serious rainfall, the sandbars are moved by the force of the water. Jamuna River is not a consistent river, as its width varies though dry seasons and high rainfall seasons. During the seasons that are dry, the river’s width measures a mere two to three miles, whereas in high rainfall seasons, it reaches a width of between five to eight miles. The river flows from India, into Bangladesh and is the major water distributor for the Brahamputra River. As the river follows its path south, it joins up with the Padma River, which in turn then merges with the Meghna River. From here it is known as the Meghna River, which flows directly into the Bay of Bengal. Before the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge was built in 1996, the river was an obstacle for any road links between the Rajashahi Division and the city of Dhaka.
The river is also a great attraction in Bangladesh as it is one of the biggest rivers in the world, and a vital waterway that carries steamers filled with eager passengers along its route, as well as cargo ships. The ferry steamers are not only important as methods of travel between destinations such as Pabana, Dhaka and Tangail, but also as a tourism tool, allowing visitors to explore Bangladesh and its riverside villages from a different point of view.
