The station is situated in the riverine port city of Chandpur, with an area of 17.2 ha and has 36 non-drainable ponds ranging in size from 0.12 to 0.37 ha each with a total of 8.6 ha. water area. In addition, the station has one carp, one catfish and one prawn hatchery, specialized laboratories, and a guest house. One mechanized wooden boat equipped with research facilities, and three speed boats are available for undertaking riverine survey and studies relating to hilsa and other riverine fisheries research and management. The Riverine Station consists of 6 research divisions, which are as follows:

• Stock Assessment and Resource Statistic & Dynamics,
• Limnology & Open Water Fisheries Management,
• Culture based Fisheries Management,
• Aquatic Pollution & Fish Toxicology,
• Bio-diversity, Fish Genetics Resources Management & Conservation, and
• Fish behavior & Fishing Technology Division.

Three Sub-Stations are attached with Riverine Station, and these are: Riverine Sub-station, Rangamati, Floodplain Sub-station, Santahar and Riverine Sub-station, Khepupar.

Function of Different Divisions

Administrative Division

• To undertake over all administration and financial management of the center.
• To provide infrastructural facilities to the research division.
• To undertake procurement of store to facilitate the scientific work.

Stock Assessment & Resource Statistic and Dynamics

• To collect and collate the relevant data on inland fish and fisheries resources of the country.
• To undertake investigations on the status, trend and changes taking place in the inland fisheries because of human intervention.
• To undertake population dynamics and stock assessment of commercially important inland fishes.
• To conduct studies on resource biomass, catch and fishing effort, and to gather other fisheries statistics relevant to inland sector.
• In cooperation with the Stock Assessment, Resource Statistics and Dynamics Division of MFTS, to conduct stock assessment and other analyses required to generate the scientific advice necessary for the management of inland fisheries.

Limnology and Open Water Fisheries Management

• To undertake limnological and ecological investigation to assess and monitor productivity.
• To undertake research on openwater fisheries management.
• To conduct research on important species on their distribution, migration and environmental preference, their modes of reproduction and reproductive seasons; their food types and major predators.
• To provide advice on the open water fisheries management to the developmental agencies.

Culture based Fisheries Management

• To conduct experimentation on evolving package of practices in terms of suitable species, size, stocking density and other management measures for culture based fisheries.
• To undertake investigation on pen & cage culture.
• To undertake study on rehabilitation of inland fisheries.

Aquatic Pollution and Fish Toxicology

• To conduct research and monitoring studies on inland aquatic pollution and its impact on fisheries.
• To undertake experimentation on fish toxicology with different pesticides and monitor status of new pesticides and their effects on the different stages of life cycle of fish.
• To provide advice and policy recommendations on the control of pollution in consultation with Technology Testing and Monitoring and Conservation Policy Division of the FRI HQs.

Biodiversity, Fish Genetics Resources and Conservation

• To undertake study to assess the biodiversity of inland aquatic ecosystems and identify threatened fish species and fish food organisms.
• To undertake collection, identification and evaluation of fish genetic resources.
• To provide advice and policy recommendation in consultation with Technology Testing and Monitoring and Conservation Policy Division of the FRI HQ on fish genetic resource conservation and also on the importation of exotic germs plasm.

Fish behaviour and Fishing Technology Division

• To develop improved fishing technology for the riverine fisheries.
• To conduct studies of the inland fisheries practices in different parts of the country.
• To cooperate with other Divisions at RS, FRI, particularly by providing technological support to the Stock Assessment, Resource Statistics and Dynamics Division.
• In cooperation with the Technology Testing Division and Manpower Development of FRI Headquarters, maintain an active extension program to disseminate the results and research-based information generated by this division.