the course of the padma, as the main course of the ganges is known in bangladesh, changed considerably during the period 1600 to 2000 ad. it is difficult to trace accurately the various channels through which it flowed, but the probability is that it flowed past rampur boalia, through chalan beel, the dhaleshwari and buriganga rivers, past dhaka into the meghna estuary. in the 18th century, the lower course of the river flowed further south. about the middle of the 19th century the main volume of the channel flowed through this southern channel, which came to be known as kirtinasa. gradually the padma adopted its present course.