Muhuri River

Known in the whole Indian subcontinent as the river’s origin in India to end in the neighboring Bangladesh, Muhuri River is famous for being a transnational river. Origin of this river is in Tripura’s hills and its course is to travel from the hills to plains in the state to move downwards towards Bangladesh. It proves strategic and appealing as well for the sharp water currents. Its merging with the Bay of Bengal ends the course of this river. The river remains a bone of contention between India and Bangladesh for it being a border dispute.

Course

Muhuri River has the unique course from its origin in Lushai Hills in Tripura state to the areas it passes through in the hills and the plain areas thereafter. It often remains the major landmark in northeastern state of Tripura until the river flow westwards in the neighboring country, Bangladesh. Its course in the second country begins from its entry into Feni district through Parshuram upazila to merge with the prominent tributary, Feni just before ending into the Bay of Bengal there. This river plays a pivotal role to separate the two important districts in neighboring Bangladesh namely Feni and Chittagong as it flows in between them.

Tributaries

What makes Muhuri River important in its country of destination Bangladesh is its merging with prominent Feni and the Bay of Bengal. By its course in India and most importantly in Bangladesh where the river ends, it comes across to many areas at which several streams and smaller rivers connect to it as a tributary before it’s merging with the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

Present Scenario

Certain factors which keep Muhuri River in limelight are that they have historic and political importance for the two neighboring countries—India and Bangladesh. This river is a border area between the two countries in Tripura-Noakhali sector of these two neighbors. As the course of this river have been changing frequently due to its high speed current, it has literally become difficult for the two countries to create any sort of demarcation for the boundaries at this river area. Efforts are also made by the Indian government to make 1974 Accord with Bangladesh applicable that agrees for the mid-stream course of Muhuri River to work for the demarcation purpose. All such factors remain important for two nations and so do they bring this river into the international stage as a disputed river.

Ironically though, Bangladesh focuses on the 1893 map rather than 1974 Accord. If agreed on the 1893 map, then India would be forced to lose the huge tract of extra land to Bangladesh which is close to this river. An important identity of this river is the Muhurichar Island consisting of the 140-acres of land working as an island on this river in this region. This region is very much famous for the rice cultivation. It is a tract of island which remains the bone of contention for both the countries even to this day. Such scenario has further popularized this river on international level.

Muhuri River therefore remains the cause of tiffs and tensions between the two countries for border dispute as demarcation of land boundary between them has still not been done. With the total basin area of 839 sq.km, Muhuri River plays an important role in the hydrology. This river is one of the huge rivers flowing in this region with 76,247,000 cubic meters of water.

In fact, Muhuri River is famous for several known reasons like being the wildest one, its nature to cause flash floods and too many changes in the course every now and then. Tidal actions are common in this river due to direct merging into the sea. Such factors make it wild-natured river in the Indian subcontinent.

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