The River Teesta in northern Bangladesh has dried up so severely that large stretches now resemble a dead canal, causing immense hardship for people who depend on it for agriculture, fishing and transport.

During a visit to different parts of Lalmonirhat and neighbouring areas, miles of sandbanks were seen covering the riverbed, with the width of the dry stretch reaching 8–10 miles in some locations. Residents say they are struggling to commute across the parched river, which was once a vital lifeline for the region.

Locals blame the crisis on India’s unilateral control of Teesta water at the Gajoldoba Barrage upstream. They allege that India closes its upstream dams during the dry season, leaving Bangladesh with almost no water, and then releases excess water during the monsoon, causing flooding downstream.

The Teesta Barrage in Hatibandha upazila, Bangladesh’s largest irrigation project, was built to supply water to thousands of hectares of farmland across the Rangpur region. However, due to insufficient water flow, residents say the project has brought more suffering than benefit in recent years.

Boat services have nearly ceased, leaving hundreds of boatmen out of work. Fishermen say fish stocks have collapsed, forcing many to abandon their profession. “There is hardly any water left; it is all sand now. We suffer greatly while crossing the river,” said Fazr Ali, a farmer from Govardhan village in Aditmari upazila.

Boatman Bahar Mia said the ghats have closed because boats can no longer operate. “Without work, we are living a miserable life,” he added. Fishermen echoed similar struggles, saying they can no longer survive on their ancestral trade.

Locals believe that dredging the river and directing water through a single permanent channel would restore flow and benefit agriculture, navigation and fisheries.

Lalmonirhat Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sunil Kumar Roy acknowledged that the river now carries water for only three to four months a year. He said whatever water remains is divided into small, ineffective channels, reducing its usefulness. He added that upstream withdrawal of Teesta water for irrigation is the main cause of the severe dry-season shortage.

Residents say they have long heard about the proposed Teesta Master Plan but have yet to see any real progress. Former schoolteacher Jamal Uddin said implementing the project would restore the river’s vitality and improve economic conditions in the region. Teesta Barrage Project Executive Engineer Amitabh Chowdhury also said the master plan, if executed, would help resolve the longstanding water crisis.

Frustrated locals have urged the government to take diplomatic and legal measures to address what they describe as India’s unjust and inhumane control of the Teesta’s water flow.