River Description

The Brahmaputra is one of the world’s largest rivers. It originates from the great glacier mass of Chema-Yung-Dung in the Kailas range of southern Tibet.  Along its course it passes through the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, Bangladesh and finally drains into the Bay of Bengal. Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh through Nageshwari upazila of the Kurigram district and flows southwards. It finally meets with the Ganges River near Goalanda Upazila of Rajbari District. 

In its course of some 2,880 km journey, the Brahmaputra receives as many as 22 major tributaries in Tibet, 33 in India and 4 in Bangladesh. Within Bangladesh territories, the Brahmaputra receives 4 major right bank tributaries viz. the Dudkumar, the Dharala, the Teesta and the Hurasagar. The first three are flashy rivers rising in steep catchments on the southern side of the Himalayan between Darjeeling and Bhutan. The Hurasagar River is the outlet of the Karatoya-Atrai river system which drains the northwest region of Bangladesh.

The hydrological regime of the Brahmaputra River is characterized by an extremely large and variable flow, enormous rates of sediment discharge, rapid channel aggradations, accelerated rates of basin denudation and unique patterns of river morphology. The hydrology of the river responds to the seasonal rhythm of the monsoon and freeze-thaw cycle of the Himalayan snow. High monsoon rainfall in the upper catchments and steep gradients are considered to be the major factors responsible for the high rates of unit discharge, which causes the high sediment yield from the basin.

Type of the River

In the plains of Assam and Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra flows in a highly braided channel marked by the presence of numerous mid-channel and lateral bars and islands, while in the Himalayan section its channel is steep and narrow with gradients as high as 14.8 m/km. An extremely dominant monsoon interacting with a unique physiographic setting, fragile geological base and active seismo-tectonic instability have moulded the Brahmaputra into one of the world’s most exciting gigantic fluvial system.

Length of the River

The river travels 1,625 km in China and 918 km in India and 337 km through Bangladesh and finally drains into the Bay of Bengal through a joint channel with the Ganges. The main channel is 2880 km long.

Width of the River

The average width of the river is 12 km. The maximum and minimum width of the river is 16 km and 9 km respectively.

 (Source: Rivers Beyond Borders: India Bangladesh Transboudary River ATLAS by IUCN; বাংলাদেশের নদ-নদীঃ বাংলাদেশ পানি উন্নয়ন বোর্ড)