Meghna River or Meghna Upper River is a river in Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Lakshmipur and Bhola districts of southeastern Bangladesh. The length of the river is 156 km, the average width is 3400 m and the nature of the river is spiral. The Meghna has its highest flow starting from Chandpur estuary and Meghna flows about 100 km from the beginning to the end of Bhola and falls into the Bay of Bengal. The reference number given by the Bangladesh Water Development Board or “Paubo” to the Meghna Upper River is 17 in the southeastern region. Meghna is the deepest and widest river and one of the largest and main rivers of Bangladesh.
From the hilly region of Assam, the ‘Barak’ river divides into two branches named Surma and Kushiara near Sherpur, Assam. Then it flows over Sylhet district. These two rivers unite at Markuli on the border of Sunamganj and Habiganj districts, advance some distance under the name of Kalni, flow past the village of Ikurdia in Ashtagram of Kishoreganj district, join the Brahmaputra near Bhairab Bazar and take the name Meghna. Then it moves further south and joins the Padma river near Chandpur. Further south, the Meghna River flows through Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Bhola Island into the Bay of Bengal as Meghna Lower River. The length of Meghna river including Surma is about 650 miles. The confluence of Padma-Meghna near Chandpur is known as Mohana. About 90 miles south of here the Meghna joins the Bay of Bengal in four estuaries. Their local names are Tentulia, Shahbazpur, Sandwip and Hatia. Meghna is also the deepest and longest river in Bangladesh.
The Meghna carries much rainwater like any other major river in the world. This river carries the rainwater of Surma, Kushiara, Khasia-Jaintia Hills, Shillong Valley and Cherrapunji. Cherrapunji in the Meghalaya state of India receives the highest rainfall in the world. Large bill or haor has been formed in Sylhet due to the huge amount of rain water. And because of this Meghna is very deep and droughty. Meghna is famous for dhal or flood. When rainwater cannot reach the estuary fast enough, it overflows its banks and floods. Hilsa is found in abundance at the confluence of Padma and Meghna near Chandpur. This hilsa is very tasty. That’s why Hilsa of Chandpur is world famous. Location of Meghna-Gomti Bridge over the Meghna River at Daudkandi in Comilla District. Also the Bhairav and Ashuganj Railway Bridge is an important bridge over the river.
Kanaighat, Golapganj, Sylhet, Chatak, Sunamganj, Dirai, Markuli are famous cities and commercial centers on the banks of Surma river. Jokiganj, Biyanibazar, Fenchuganj, Balaganj, Ajmirganj, Shalla, Bhairab Bazar and Chandpur are famous cities and ports on the banks of the Kushiara.
