ABSTRACT
The combined course of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra takes the name of Padma, which joins the Meghna at Chandpur. From this confluence, the combined course of the three rivers continues as the lower Meghna into the Bay of Bengal passing the densely populated urban areas of Bangladesh. After entering Bangladesh completely, it flows for another 113 km before joining Brahmaputra near Goalanda. Downstream of Farakka, there are only two tributaries that join the Ganges, the Mohananda and the Baral. The Ganges has a total length of about 2,600 km and the total drainage area is approximately 1,087,300 km2. Major rivers of Nepal that feed the Ganges are Mahakali, Karnali, Gandak and Kosi. The rivers of Nepal contribute more than 40 percent of the total flow of the Ganges and over 70 percent of its dryseason flow. (Tanzeema et al., 2001; Onta, 2001 and Biswas, 2001).
