// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Kapotaksha River say? I'm drained.
| Kapotaksha River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Native name | কপোতাক্ষ নদ (Bengali) |
| Location | |
| Country | |
| Bangladesh | |
| Region | South west |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Mathabhanga River |
| • elevation | 8m |
| Mouth | Shibsa River |
• location | Sundarban |
• elevation | 0m |
| Length | 250 km (160 mi) |
| Width | |
| • maximum | 100 m |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Ganges Delta |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Bhairab River |
The Kapotaksha (Sanskrit), or Kobodak (Bengali: কপোতাক্ষ নদ, romanized: Kapōtākṣa Nada), Kabadak, or Kopotakkho, is a river of Bangladesh.[1] The river is famous for upholding the memory of popular Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt.[2][3] Poem Kapatakkha Nad is included in the SSC syllabus of Bangladesh.
Origin
[edit]Though originated from the Mathabhanga river, the Kopothakho has gotten disconnected from its source. Now it is mainly a branch of Bhairab river. The river flows through Jessore, Satkhira and Khulna districts and finally meets the Kholpetua river in Khulna District.[4] The lower part of the river is tidal.[1]
In present day
[edit]The river is shrinking due to encroachment.[3] Different organizations have urged the authorities to take initiatives to save the river.[2]
In popular culture
[edit]The Kopothakho first appeared in Bangla literature the famous poem Kapatakkha Nad of Michael Madhusudan Dutt. It was one of the first sonnets of Bengali literature introduced by Dutt. Afterwards many other works been created on it.[5] Kapotaksha Express is a renowned train of Bangladesh Railway runs between Khulna to Rajshahi. The sonnet is as follows:
Always, o river, you peep in my mind.
Always I think you in this loneliness.
Always I soothe my ears with the murmur
Of your waters in illusion, the way
Men hear songs of illusion in a dream.
Many a river I have seen on earth;
But which can quench my thirst the way you do?
You're the flow of milk in my homeland's breasts.
Will I meet you ever? As long as you
Go to kinglike ocean to pay the tax
Of water, I beg to you, sing my name
Into the ears of people of Bengal,
Sing his name, o dear, who in this far land
Sings your name in all his songs for Bengal.
References
[edit]- 1 2 Ahmed, Tahmina (2012). "Kobadak River". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- 1 2 "Kopotakkho River in danger". Dhaka Tribune. Dhaka. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
- 1 2 Seraj, Shykh (2012-12-01). "The Dying Waterway". The Daily Star. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
- ↑ "The Face of Bangla: Rivers of Bangladesh (Part 01)". www.faceofbangla.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ↑ Debnath, Bipul K (2016-01-22). "Michael Madhusudan Dutt". The Independent BD. Dhaka. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
22°52′40″N 89°07′24″E / 22.8777°N 89.1234°E
