How an urban river integrates or disintegrates a city: The case of Mongla Town, Bangladesh

Abstract

Studying the city-river system usually allows for an understanding of the role of a river in integrating or disintegrating its urban areas and its impact on the life and livelihood of the population therein. The opportunity to cross the river is considered a prime integrating parameter of that system. With this conception, this chapter aims to understand the city-river system of Mongla, a port town in Bangladesh at the confluence of the River Pasur and the River Mongla, especially the impact of the river on the daily life and activities of the inhabitants. The River Mongla has bifurcated the town. It can be crossed using occasional ferry services and small boat rides to avail of the functions of both sides. Through employing multiple qualitative tools, the functional integrity of both sides of the town and its impacts on the lives and livelihoods of the population are identified. The findings highlight the need to develop multiple ways for crossing the river to better integrate it into the urban system, though it cannot be said that the river causes the disintegration of its two parts. © 2026 Imon Chowdhooree, Tasfin Aziz, Md. Jubaer Rashid, Meherab Hossain. All rights reserved.