Atrai River

It was associated with the Karatoya River. The birth place of this river is the state of West Bengal and flows into Dinajpur district of Bangladesh, only to reappear again in India. The river on its journey flows through Kumarganj and the Balurghat blocks in south Dinajpur district of the state of West Bengal.

The river makes a second visit to Bangladesh. It bifurcates into two rivers. They are the Gabura and the Kankra located in the district of Dinajpur. The Atrai then passes through the Barind Tract. From there it moves into Chalan Beel.

The river is a permanent source of fish and floods during the monsoon season. The total length of the river may be about 390 km. It is 99 ft deep.

Early history mentions that the Atrai River in the previous years was one of the principal rivers of North West Bengal. It had the channel that carried the discharged waters of the Teesta River, into the Ganges River.

However, the river in 1787 severed ties from its ancient bed, only to create its own channel and make its way into the River Brahmaputra via the Rangpur district. The Atrai river lost its past importance and glory.

From Rangpur district, the river flows past Chalan Beel and finally moves towards Numagar Village. Earlier, the river followed the south-easterly route, leaving the Chalam Beel. Finally the river joins the Jamuna.

The southern part of the river in this area may still be seen from its union with the river Ichhamati, located at Boalmari. From there it moves onto Dulai and Bera Thana, only to join the Padma, near Ratnagunj. This is one of the rare examples of river course changes.

Course

The Atrai River is enters the country of Bangladesh, from the north-east, near the villages Joygunj located at Panchagrh district and flowing past the Chirir Bandar, Debigunj Khansama and Birganj, from the north to the south. In Birgunj, the river makes a small branch named Gabura or Gaveswari and moves from its west bank. It then flows very close Dinajpur town and rejoins the Kagoan part of Atrai.

The flowing distance of the river is about 15 miles. The river splits into two rivers. They are the Kaogaon and Kankra. They unite before the Mohanpur Bridge in Chirir Bandar and then enter India. Here the river flows towards towards South Dinajpur district, Kumarganj and the Balurghat town. After Balurghat, the river Atrai re-enters Bangladesh at Dhamoirhat. Also covering Patnitala, Mahadevpur and Manda.

Tributaries

To know the Atrai River one has to be familiar with the rivers of the country of Bangladesh. The rivers of Dinajpur when mentioned, one must know that they were once upon a time, rivers of united India and Bangladesh.
These rivers of Dinajpur flow from the north to the south, having their final stop either to the august river Brahmaputra or to the Ganga River.

There are several rivers like the Atrai or Atrayee, Karatoa, Punarbhava and the Tangon, are mostly sleeping rivers during the dry Indian summers. They are wake in the monsoon season. During this season, the rivers awake and manage to get some flowing current, only if there is heavy rain. On other days, they are fordable throughout the journey spread across the state.

The rivers drop their bed level and are devoid of currents all the year around. One will find small streams and brooks that flow into these rivers. Although one will find boats sailing during the monsoon, still they are not dependable for commuting.
Kaatoa/ Or The Karotya

This river is the oldest carriers of the Teesta and evolves the eastern border of the district, divorcing itself from Rangpur and joins the south-eastern corner of Dinajpur. The course of this river is killing!

Sir William Hunter correctly said that part of the country was a maze comprised of old waterer-courses and still marshes.

The Tangon River

This river originates in the high land north of piedmont, flowing west of Panchagrh that which is south of Tentulia.

The Purnarbhaba River

This river starts from the low-lying land near Deoli in Thakurgaon district, flowing to the south of Chak-Kanchan near the Dinajpur district town.

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