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Why is the Brahmaputra River more useful for navigation than irrigation in Assam and Bangladesh?

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Map showing the course of the Brahmaputra River as it flows from southwestern China through northeastern India and into Bangladesh, with surrounding countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan labeled. The river's path is highlighted in blue, and major international boundaries are marked. — Brahmaputra River Brahmaputra River.

The Brahmaputra River is more significant for inland navigation than for irrigation in Assam and Bangladesh primarily because the region experiences heavy annual rainfall. This abundant precipitation reduces the necessity for extensive irrigation systems compared to the river's utility as a major waterway.12

The river remains navigable throughout the Bengal Plain and upstream in Assam as far as Dibrugarh, a distance of 700 miles (1,100 km) from the sea. This allows for the efficient transport of bulky raw materials, timber, and crude oil via local craft, powered launches, and steamers. Furthermore, because the river is often unbridged or difficult to cross, ferries serve as a vital, and in some areas of Bangladesh the only, means of transportation for people and goods.1