Rangpur: The major rivers and tributaries have been drying up abnormally in the Brahmaputra basin much ahead of the dry season this year due to the adverse impacts of global climate change.

The Brahmaputra has now the lowest water flow in some narrower channels causing emergence of many shoals hampering navigability throughout its courses in the northern region, officials and experts said.

The Teesta has almost dried up causing lowering of underground water level and posing formidable threat to the century-old civilizations, irrigation, navigation, ecology, climate, environment and bio- diversity and have caused a grave concern to the habitation in the river basin.

The landless char people are now cultivating maize, Boro, ground nut, `china', `kawn', pulses, mustard, `gunji till', wheat, tobacco, watermelon and many other crops on vast tract of the sandy bed of these and other dried-up rivers and tributaries.

The crop farming began long ago as the rivers dry up abnormally every year during the dry season in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Rangpur, said Editor of the Weekly Juger Khabar being published from Chilmari in Kurigram.

It takes over four hours in crossing the 28 km river-route from Chilmari to Rajibpur or Roumari by an engine driven boat as the water vessels are slowly moving through huge zigzag channels due to appearance of hundreds of submerged shoals.

"The movements of engine driven boats on all routes to and from 28 river ghats in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Jamalpur districts have become hazardous and risky due to emergence of shoals in the Brahmaputra," he added.

The oil companies are somehow carrying diesel and kerosene to Chilmari Floating Oil Depot by transporting barges through the Brahmaputra amid risky navigability causing concern to the farmers and commoners in the remote areas.

Talking to journalists on Tuesday, Executive Engineer Rezaul Mostafa Asafuddowla of Water Development Board said hundreds of shoals and chars have emerged on the Brahmaputra bed making the path of water much thinner to flow.

Noted agri-scientist and Associate Director (Agriculture) of BRAC International (South Asia and Africa) Dr M A Mazid said such adverse situation has changed overall climate forcing the region more prone to natural disasters.

Consultant of IRRI Bangladesh Dr MG Neogi, having 15 years working experience with environment issues, said droughts, floods and erosions are occurring in the basin due to unbridled rise of riverbeds from abnormal deposition of silts caused due to climate change.

The experts said that the future of human civilization will depend on the success of adapting with adverse climate change impacts and innovating newer ways towards the direction in the region and the world as a whole.

They suggested for regional cooperation and long-term planning involving all countries, including India and China, to cope with the changing climate situation along the Brahmaputra basin and other river basins.

Ends/AMA/22/01/13