Water level in 20 rivers including the Surma, Kushiara, Monu, Piang, Sari, Borak, Basia and old Borak flowing over the districts has declined significantly in recent years.
Most of the parts of the rivers have dried up and turned into canals in the current dry season.
Water vehicle movements and agriculture are being hampered seriously.
Many chars have developed which turned into a sandy desert.
The river routes of Chhatok under Sunamgonj Sadar upazila, Jamalgonj and Dirae upazila are at stake. Navigability has fallen drastically in the areas.
Meanwhile, several river routes have been closed, local sources said.
Environmentalists say the reduced flows are linked to climate change and will have a major impact as the human population grows.
Jalal Ahmed, Chairman of Jalalbad union council, said: ” Water vehicle movements and agriculture are being hampered seriously as the Surma rivers run dry in the area.”
Sahel Mia of Lamakazi area said: “The Surma river bed in the area has turned into cropland as there is no water.”
Social worker Ali Hossain said: “The rivers entered Bangladesh from India. Nowadays the low water-flow of such affects the navigability badly.”
“The vast tracts of rivers are sandy and it could not be identified as big rivers,” an inhabitant of the Basia River bank said.
Local people are crossing the Piang river on foot from one place to another in Jointiapur upazila. Such dried-up rivers impact the bio-diversity every year.
A boat trader of Jointiapur upazila, said that his two boats were abandoned at present due to the drastic fall of water level in the Piang River.
Executive Engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board said: To solve the problem, dredging in the rivers is needed.
