Chapainawabganj, April 14, (V7N) – A major water management initiative involving the inflation of a rubber dam on the Mahananda River has triggered backlash from communities in Chapainawabganj, as a 26-kilometer downstream stretch of the river has reportedly dried up.

Implemented by the Chapainawabganj Water Development Board, the dam, located near the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge, began retaining water for the first time this year. While upstream areas now benefit from increased water levels, local residents and fishermen downstream claim they are bearing the brunt of its unintended consequences.

"All the water is stuck there. The water flow has stopped. Due to this, the river has dried up," said Abul Kalam Azad, a long-time fisherman from the Barogharia area, who called this the worst he’s seen in decades.

The 393-meter-long dam, whose construction began in 2021, is positioned 70 kilometers from where the transboundary Mahananda River enters Bangladesh. The river, which flows 95 kilometers through Chapainawabganj, has reportedly lost its natural downstream flow following the dam’s inflation, affecting everything from local fisheries to groundwater availability.

Locals like Tulshi Haldar of Barogharia Bazarpara worry the drying river signals worsening drought conditions, while Rashidul Islam of Chamagram claims even deep tube wells are running dry. Accusations have also been leveled at the Water Development Board for failing to consider the impact on downstream communities.

"The Water Development Board has killed the Mahananda River with the rubber dam," said Abu Bakkar from Akundbaria.

In defense, Engineer SM Ahsan Habib, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, argued that the dam has added 5 to 6 feet of water upstream, allowing better irrigation and deeper groundwater access. He predicted a "revolutionary change" in agriculture over the next five years.

However, he acknowledged concerns:"Every project has its merits and demerits," said Habib, outlining a future plan to channel water from the Padma River back into the Mahananda through backwater flow, pending additional river dredging.

The project’s budget has already exceeded Tk 224 crore, up from the initial estimate of Tk 155 crore, sparking further scrutiny amid public criticism. As debates intensify, the region’s environmental sustainability and the livelihoods of downstream communities remain at stake—hinging on whether mitigation measures arrive in time to reverse the drying trend.

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