View source for Feni River

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Feni River
| name_native        = ফেনী নদী
| name_native_lang   = bn
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
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<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Countries
| subdivision_name1  = [[Bangladesh]] and [[India]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Bangladesh|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Khagrachari]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[States of India|State]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Tripura]]
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<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|116|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite book |last=Chowdhury|first=Sifatul Quader |year=2012 |chapter=Feni River |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Feni_River |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> 
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| discharge1_location= [[Bay of Bengal]]
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| source1            = 
| source1_location   = [[Khagrachari district]], [[Bangladesh]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|23|20|N|91|47|E|display=inline}}<ref name =Banglapedia/>
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| mouth              = [[Bay of Bengal]]
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| tributaries_right  = [[Muhuri River]]
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}}

'''Feni River''' ({{lang-bn|ফেনী নদী}} ''Feni Nodi'') is a river in southeastern [[Bangladesh]] and [[Tripura]] state of [[India]]. It is a [[trans-boundary river]] with an ongoing dispute about water rights. The Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through [[Sabroom]] town and then enters Bangladesh. [[Muhuri River]], also called Little Feni, from [[Noakhali District]] joins it near its mouth. The river is navigable by small boats as far as [[Ramgarh Upazila|Ramgarh]], about {{convert|80|km|mi}} upstream.

The question of sharing of the waters of the river between India and Pakistan was first discussed in 1958. Through at least 2006 the countries continued to consider possible compromises.

== Course ==
Feni River originates in [[South Tripura district]] and flows through [[Sabroom]] town and then enters Bangladesh.<ref name="Sabroom">{{cite web |url=http://forum.twipra.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=97 |title=Sabroom Feni River Canal |access-date=2007-12-18 |publisher=Forum Twipra.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905204200/http://forum.twipra.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=97 |archive-date=2007-09-05 }}{{Self-published source|date=September 2015}}</ref> [[Muhuri River]], also called Little Feni, from [[Noakhali District]] joins it near its mouth. The river is navigable throughout the year by small boats up to Ramgarh, some {{convert|80|km|mi}} upstream.<ref name=Banglapedia/>

== Dispute ==
The question of sharing of the waters of the river between India and Pakistan was discussed as early as 1958.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/IN%20PK_580910_Agreement%20between%20India%20and%20Pakistan%20on%20Border%20Disputes%20%28East%20Pakistan%29.pdf |title=Agreement between India and Bangladesh on border disputes (East Pakistan) |date=1958-09-10 |website=United Nations Peacemaker |publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |access-date=2007-12-18}}</ref>

Reports from Pakistan in 2007 said, "India is trying to withdraw water from Feni River for irrigation projects in exchange of resolving erosion problem in Bangladesh side of this bordering river."<ref>{{cite news|date=2007-01-30 |title=India trying to withdraw water from Feni River |url=http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3008&Itemid=2 |agency=Associated Press of Pakistan |access-date=2007-12-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925125825/http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3008&Itemid=2 |archive-date=2015-09-25 }}</ref>

According to statement on sharing of river waters with Bangladesh, released by India in 2007, "Feni River has been added to its mandate in the 36th JRC meeting.  A decision was taken in the meeting that the Ministers of Water Resources of both the countries would visit the sites where developmental works have been held up.  This Joint Inspection of various locations of developmental and flood protection works on common rivers was held from September 14–21, 2006."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mea.gov.in/foreignrelation/bangladesh.pdf |title=India-Bangladesh Political Relations |date=February 2007 |work=Sharing of River Waters |publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925125012/http://www.mea.gov.in/foreignrelation/bangladesh.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-25 |access-date=2007-12-18}}</ref>

== Inland port in Tripura ==
Sabroom in South Tripura, in India, is only {{convert|18|to|20|km|mi}} from the Bay of Bengal, but it is a virtually a landlocked territory. In 2007, there was a thinking that an inland harbour could be built at Sabroom, connected to the sea through a canal, if Bangladesh allowed it.  The construction of such a harbour could reduce considerably the cost of transportation of goods from the rest of India to Tripura and the north-east of India.  However, the idea had not been acted on through 2007.<ref name = "Sabroom"/>

== Bridge ==
A bridge is built over the Feni River to link up with Tripura. Construction was set to begin in December 2010 for the {{convert|150|m|ft|adj=on}} link between Sabroom and Ramgarh.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-12-22 |title=India&ndash;Bangladesh to Start Work on Bridge This Month |url=http://www.sify.com/finance/india-bangladesh-to-start-work-on-bridge-this-month-news-default-kmwlOogfjjh.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226174839/http://www.sify.com/finance/india-bangladesh-to-start-work-on-bridge-this-month-news-default-kmwlOogfjjh.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-12-26 |work=Sify Finance |publisher=Sify Technologies |agency=IANS |access-date=2014-10-13}}</ref> The bridge  provides the only land link between India's eastern states and its western states other than through Assam.<ref>{{cite news |title=India to Develop Bangladesh Port |url=http://www.tripurainfo.com/info/ArchiveDet.aspx?WhatId=13826 |date=2014-10-07 |work=Tripurainfo |agency=IANS |access-date=2014-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021110051/http://www.tripurainfo.com/info/ArchiveDet.aspx?WhatId=13826 |archive-date=2014-10-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
The foundation stone for the bridge was officially laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in June 2015. The cost of constructing the bridge, as well as the approach roads to it in both Bangladesh and India, will be borne by India. The Tripura Public Works Department was appointed to execute the project. When completed, the bridge will connect Tripura with the Chittagong port in Bangladesh providing landlocked North East India with access to the sea, and enabling the transport of heavy machines and goods to North East India via Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web|title=India starts work on bridge over Feni river linking North-East to Chittagong|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/india-starts-work-on-bridge-over-feni-river-linking-north-east-to-chittagong/281559/|website=The Financial Express|access-date=1 June 2017|date=11 June 2016}}</ref>

The bridge was inaugurated on 9 March 2021 by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina via video conference. The bridge was named "[[Maitri Setu]]" symbolizing the growing friendship and bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maitri Setu Bridge India Bangladesh Inaugurated BY PM Modi|url=https://thenitrrshworld.com/maitri-setu-bridge-india-bangladesh-inaugurated-by-pm-modi/|website=The Nitrrsh World|access-date=9 March 2021|date=9 March 2021}}</ref>

== Feni dam==
The Feni is closed near the sea by the Feni dam. This dam has been constructed in 1985 to prevent floodings by surges the lower reaches of the Feni due to cyclones and make a large area fitted for agriculture. The dam is mainly constructed by manual Labour. Between the dam and the Bay of Bengal the river is a tidal river.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rivers in and around Bengal}}
{{Hydrography of North-east India}}

{{coord|22|46|N|91|26|E|display=title|region:BD_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}

[[Category:Rivers of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:International rivers of Asia]]
[[Category:Rivers of Tripura]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–India border]]
[[Category:Rivers of India]]
[[Category:Rivers of Chittagong Division]]
[[Category:Border rivers]]