Rivers, chars and char dwellers of Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh consists mainly of riverine and deltaic deposits of three large and extremely dynamic rivers entering the country: the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna rivers. The average flood discharges of these rivers (individually) are within the range of 14,000 to 100,000 m3/s. Islands and bars are very common features among them all. In Bangladesh, both islands and bars are known as chars, but in this article only the vegetated islands within the riverbanks are referred to as chars. They are difficult to access and form an extremely dynamic environment for around 600,000 people that try to make a living under extreme and hazardous conditions of frequent and intensive flooding and erosion. People displaced by char erosion have no other alternative than to settle on accreting char land elsewhere, creating a typical social and economic char environment. The economics of the char lands are largely based on agriculture, fishing and livestock‐rearing. Education, health and extension services and support to cope with the calamities of flood and erosion are minimal. This not only results in individual misery, but also in unrealized potential of resources on the chars. Satellite imagery, available from the ‘70s onward, have facilitated several comprehensive studies of the dynamics of the rivers and chars. They have, in combination with social surveys, provided a good understanding of the interaction between the physical environment and the livelihoods of the char dwellers. They have also enabled predictions, e.g. on the total area and mobility of chars in the next decade. This has improved understanding and predictive capability that could lead to a better utilization of the potential resources of the chars to improve the livelihoods of char dwellers.