Why can navigation on the Meghna River be dangerous?

Navigation on the Meghna River is considered dangerous year-round due to several hydrological factors. The river is characterized by great depth and high velocity, and it frequently splits into multiple channels and sandbanks of its own formation.1

A significant hazard occurs during spring tide, when the sea rushes upriver in a tidal bore that can reach heights of nearly 20 feet (6 meters). Additionally, the river is subject to constant erosion and the deposition of silt, which causes the landscape to undergo frequent changes. These shifting conditions, combined with the immense volume of water and the potential for tidal surges from the Bay of Bengal during tropical cyclones, create a challenging and hazardous environment for navigation.12