Shitalakshya River


Shitalakshya River is a distributary of the Brahmaputra. A portion of its upper course is known as Banar River or Banor River. In the Shitalakshya's initial stages, it flows in a southwest direction and then east of the city of Narayanganj in central Bangladesh until it merges with the Dhaleswari near Kalagachhiya. The river is about long and at it widest, near Narayanganj, it is across. Its flow, measured at Demra, has reached. It remains navigable year round. The Shitalakshya flows through Gazipur district, forming its border with Narsingdi for some distance and then through Narayanganj District.
The river's maximum depth is and average depth is.

Course

The Shitalakshya branches off the Old Brahmaputra and flows through the eastern part of Dhaka District almost parallel to the Old Brahmaputra. It passes by Narayanganj and joins the Dhaleshwari River.
In the map of Mattheus van den Brouck, director of the Dutch [East India Company], the river is marked as the Lecki, flowing west of the Brahmaputra. In Van den Brouck's time, it was a large and swift flowing river. It was so till the early 19th century. There, however, are some reservations about the accuracy of Van den Brouck's map.

Historical importance

, a former capital of the region, stood on the banks of the Shitalakshya. Isa Khan, a former ruler of the area, built a fort on the river's banks. It is believed to be connected with Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka through a tunnel. Sonakanda Fort, also on the river, was built to counter the Magh and Portuguese pirates. There are several historical mosques along Shitalakshya's banks – Bandarshahi mosque, Kadam Rasul mosque, Mariamer masjid, etc.

Economic importance

The Shitalakshya River was once an important center for the muslin industry. Even today, there are centres of artistic weaving on its banks. There also are a number of industrial units on its banks, including the Adamjee Jute Mills. Thermal power houses are located along the river at Palash and at Siddhirganj.
There is a river port in Narayanganj. Numerous launches move out along the river to different parts of Bangladesh. The government has approved construction of a container terminal on the Shitalakhya with foreign investment.
Industrial wastewater is dumped into the river untreated. This results in high levels of water pollution.