Chengi river is one of the beauties located in the greenish Khagrachari District among the hills, forests and rivers. It has been a great way of fast communication for the hill people living in the Khagrachari before other alternatives were created. Though now the river has lost it’s wildness for pollutions and contamination, it is still a river with historical and emotional value of the hill natives.
The Chengi river is 97km (60mile) at length and 77meter at width. It is also known as the ‘Chingri river' of Khagrachari. One may find the river as if moving like a giant snake if seen from the top of the hills. The twisting turns of the river with the hill territories is a special characteristic of it. This nature makes the river unique.
From maintaining communications among the hill people to making songs in it’s name like ‘ Chengi meguni kasalongkarnafuli…’ or some romantic songs like ‘Chengei pare pare…’sung by famous singer Kalayan Chakma are favorite of all time.The indigenous people celebrating their Bizu utsav by levitating flowers in the river on Ful Bizu day radiates the great relationship of the river with the hill people. The Chengi bridge in the Khagrachari upazila is named after it under which the river flows incessantly in all seasons. The river is again a prominent contributor of the mighty Karnafuli river along with other rivers in the Chittagong Hill like- Kasalong, Halda, Dhurung etc.
The Chengi river is one of the way of fulfilling the demand of water sources in Khagrachari district including on the dry seasons. It has contacted with almost all the hill ranges and kept it’s pace with time. Once it was the greatest lifeline both to the hill and plain people which is still visible. The river has become narrower and smaller than before but the current of this river is still strong. The depth although is not too much and one can easily pass through the river, things are taken away swiftly by it without difficulties. Sometimes it becomes wild and livid and river erosion occurs near the bank of the river and the families residing there becomes the victim of it. They fall victim of the ferocious Chengi river.
The hill people specially the Khagrachari, are very much intimidated with the river like no other. When it is quite, people take walk by the bank of it, visit the villages by the river some times take rest and enjoy the natural serenity of the nature. The simplicity and the translucency attract the people very dearly.
Their luck and emotion is affiliated with the flowing Chengi as also it has been a witness of their lifelong historical struggles and celebrations of all time. The glorification of it among the hilly people should continue for more time and forever. The mighty Chengi should not lose it’s glory and honor and every possible step should be taken to protect it by all means. Written by Priase Chakma
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