Physiography of the Barind Tract and Its Surrounding Areas Bengal Basin, Bangladesh

Bazlar Rashid; Sultan-Ul-Islam; Badrul Islam

doi:7150236

The Barind Tract is a relatively elevated (about 11-48 m amsl) triangular wedge of landmass. It is one of the many Pleistocene terraces present in northwestern Bangladesh. Physiography has become one of the essential inputs in planning for various developmental activities. The present paper is an attempt to delineate the physiography of the Barind Tract and its surrounding areas with the help of drainage characteristics. SPOT Panchromatic images and topographic maps have been visually interpreted for this study. The area has been divided into three major physiographic units and fifteen sub-units. The major units are the Barind Tract, Channel-floodplain complexes and Himalayan piedmont plain (Tista Fan). The elevation of the Barind Tract ranges from about 11-48 m amsl, the floodplain is about 8-23 m amsl and the Tista Fan is about 30-45 m amsl. The eastern part of the Barind Tract has leveled topography with regional slopes towards SW. The western part has undulating to rolling topography with regional slopes towards SE and SW respectively. In this part of the Barind Tract drainage density is high as compared to that of the eastern part. The sub-drainages or tributaries of main channels flows roughly E-W and W-E directions from a saddle like area and joins the roughly N-S flowing main channel. The south-central part of the study area represents a number of depressions with anastomosing drainage pattern. Surface water of the northern Ganges floodplain flows to the northern rivers, channels and the Atrai River instead to the Ganges River. The Tangon and Punarbhaba Rivers show multi-channel anastomosing systems in the Tangon and Punarbhaba valleys and these valleys do not continue up to the Mahananda River. The laterally migrated drainages is present in the floodplain areas, which is absent in the Barind Tract. The Tista Fan has been delineated over the northern part of the study area. After emerging from the foothills of the Himalayas this fan has a criss-crossed network of channels with shifting river courses. Finally, it can be concluded that the different parts of the Barind Tract and its surrounding areas have distinguishing characteristics of their own. It is, therefore, for future planning and sustainable development of the area, the information revealed from this study might be considered.

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