Kapotaksha River

Kapotaksha River
Native name	কপোতাক্ষ নদ (Bengali)
Location
Country	Bangladesh India
Bangladesh	Kushtia Meherpur Chuadanga Jessore Jhenaidah Satkhira Khulna
India	Nadia
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Mathabhanga River
Mouth	Bhairab River
• location	Shibsa River in Sundarban
Length	250 km (160 mi)
Width
• maximum	100 m
Basin features
River system	Ganges Delta

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]

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]

The river is shrinking due to encroachment.^[3] Different organizations have urged the authorities to take initiatives to save the river.^[2]

The Kopothakho first appeared in the famous poem "Kopotakkho Nod" 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.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kopothakho River.

22°52′40″N 89°07′24″E / 22.8777°N 89.1234°E / 22.8777; 89.1234