Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, March 18, 2026 (BSS) - The Barnai River flows in a snake-like shape across Rajshahi and two other districts. The river originates from the Atrai River in Patnitala Upazila.

After passing through Mandar Beel and the Shib River of Tanore, it merges with the Jamdah River in the Shitlai area of Paba Upazila in Rajshahi.

 From the Nowhata area, it becomes known as the Barnai River. It then flows through the upazilas of Paba, Mohanpur, Durgapur, and Bagmara in Rajshahi, as well as Naldanga and Singra in Natore, before finally draining into Chalan Beel.

 This time, the Rajshahi Water Development Board is dredging the river. The dredging work will take place in three upazilas of Rajshahi, covering a total length of 13 kilometers, including areas in Bagmara, Puthia, and Durgapur. 

The main objective is to improve navigability and restore the river so that it can retain water throughout the year.

According to the Rajshahi Water Development Board, the total length of the river is about 96 kilometers, of which 13 kilometers will be dredged. 

Around 4.5 kilometers will be dredged from Shilmaria Union of Puthia Upazila to Goalkandi Union of Bagmara Upazila—from the left bank in Puthia to the right bank in Bagmara.
 
Additionally, about 8.5 kilometers will be dredged from Kismat Gonkoir in Durgapur Upazila to Taherpur Municipality in Bagmara Upazila—from the left bank in Durgapur to the right bank in Taherpur Municipality.

The dredging from Shilmaria to Goalkandi will cost about Taka 16.66 crore, while the work from Kismat Gonkoir to Taherpur Municipality will cost over Taka 26.84 crore. 

The dredging will be carried out with a width ranging from a minimum of 20 meters to a maximum of 30 meters and a depth of 1.5 to 3 meters.

The work aims to improve navigability and restore the river so that it can retain water year-round. The tender process has already been completed. 

Flooding caused by obstruction of river water flow during the monsoon season has been negatively affecting the country’s overall economy. 

At the same time, the decline in river water levels has gradually reduced fish production and irrigation activities.

The project titled “Rejuvenation, Pollution Control, and Eviction of Illegal Occupation of the Barnai River in Rajshahi and Natore Districts” has an estimated cost of Tk 49. 25 crore and is targeted for completion by June 2027. 

Under the project, 29 kilometers of the Barnai River will be dredged. In addition, 63 kilometers of the river will be cleaned of pollution; 92 kilometers will be freed from illegal occupation, along with other related activities.

In 1876, William Wilson Hunter, the Chief Statistical Officer of British India, wrote in his book Statistical Account of Bengal that among the rivers of Rajshahi, the Barnai was the most navigable. 

In 1608, Subahdar Islam Khan came to Naogaon through the Barnai River route. That same Barnai has now become a “poisoned” river.

The stench from the river is so strong that people cannot even go near it. Waste from Rajshahi City Corporation, Nowhata Municipality, Mohanganj Hat, Bhabaniganj Municipality, Taherpur Municipality, Naldanga Municipality of Natore, and surrounding unions is dumped into the river. 

Currently, the river is severely threatened by encroachment and pollution. Once, it was an integral part of the livelihood and culture of farmers, fishermen, and local communities in the two districts.

River conservation activists have long demanded urgent measures to save the Barnai River, including stopping pollution, installing waste treatment plants, re-excavating the river channel, and removing illegal encroachments. 

They believe that agriculture, fisheries, and the environment of the Barind region will be severely affected if the river is not protected.

Arifur Rahman Ankur, Executive Engineer of the Rajshahi Water Development Board, said that approval for dredging the Barnai River has already been granted and the tender process has been completed. Work will begin soon. 

Areas where the river’s navigability has decreased will be dredged. Proposals for dredging several other rivers and canals have also been submitted to the ministry, though those have not yet received approval.