Dhaka, Oct. 30 -- The Teesta River - once the lifeline of northern Bangladesh - is nearly dying and agriculture and irrigation in the region have come to a standstill, leaving farmers in distress. Once a mighty, flowing stream, it now lies dry and barren, exposing vast stretches of sandbanks.

According to the Water Development Board (WDB), the average water flow at the Teesta Barrage Point over the past 11 days has been only 17,000 cusecs, less than half of the normal flow. The river's depth has nearly halved, its bed is drying up, and the groundwater table is decreasing gradually. As a result, agriculture in the northern districts - which heavily depend on the Teesta Barrage for irrigation - faces a severe crisis. Crops such as paddy, m...