River Encroachment in Dhaka City

Abstract

The chapter aims at reviewing various causes of river encroachment in Dhaka with grave consequences of encroachment and suggesting measures that would protect the rivers and maintain ecological sustainability. Dhaka city is located at the center point of the flat deltaic plain of the three major river systems including the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna. The city is surrounded by the distributaries of these rivers. They are the Balu and the Shitalakhya on the east, the Turag on the west and north, and the Buriganga on the south. Being expanded rapidly in an unplanned way with the phenomenal increase of population, land scarcity and land price, Dhaka city’s peripheral zone reached the banks of the rivers. Rivers of Dhaka are now under serious threat of extinction due to gradual encroachment which is narrowing down the rivers. Thus, the rivers require immediate recovery actions to minimize the adverse effects of encroachment.