Riverbank erosion remains a persistent and devastating problem in many parts of the country, posing serious threats to lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. Year after year, erosion continues to devour houses, farmlands, educational and religious institutions, and other vital establishments, leaving thousands of people homeless and destitute.
Recent reports indicate that rising water levels in Kurigram’s rivers have exacerbated erosion along the Brahmaputra, Dharla, and Teesta rivers. The situation has become dire in areas such as Mollarhat, Rasulpur, and Koddar Mor in Ulipur upazila, as well as parts of Kurigram Sadar, Chilmari, Rajarhat, Roumari, and Rajibpur—even before the full onset of the monsoon season.
In just a few days, more than 100 homes, agricultural land, and countless trees have been lost. Roads, schools, mosques, madrasas, and community clinics are now at imminent risk. Locals report that timely protective measures could have significantly mitigated these losses. Recent rainfall has further raised river levels, inundating approximately 300 hectares of farmland.
Many displaced residents are now forced to take shelter with neighbors or live under the open sky. Despite organizing protests and human chains, they have yet to see any effective action.
Many people have lost their
entire livelihoods and
properties overnight, pushed
into poverty and uncertainty
The most erosion-prone districts include Bogura, Tangail, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Pabna, Kushtia, and Rajshahi. Residents of these areas live in constant panic, knowing their homes and agricultural lands could vanish at any moment. The situation is likely to worsen. A recent study by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) warns that about 28 square kilometers of land across 13 districts could be lost to river erosion this year—more than the area lost in 2024.
The study also identifies high-risk areas along the Jamuna, Ganges, and Padma rivers. Critical infrastructure, including four kilometers of embankments and dams, major highway segments, district headquarters, rural roads, marketplaces, homes, religious sites, educational institutions, and even hospitals are under threat. Unlike floods or cyclones, which may destroy property but leave the land intact, riverbank erosion wipes away everything, including the land itself.
The plight of those who have taken refuge on embankments or in makeshift shelters has only worsened with time. Contributing factors such as climate change, rising river levels during monsoons, and shifts in river courses have intensified erosion in recent years. Many people have lost their entire livelihoods and properties overnight, pushed into poverty and uncertainty.
In light of this growing crisis, the government must adopt a long-term, strategic approach. Therefore, the government must construct and repair the embankments in vulnerable areas, implement the riverbank protection and dredging projects and take measures for urgent relief and rehabilitation for displaced families.
Riverbank erosion is not just a seasonal issue—it is a national emergency that demands sustained attention, comprehensive planning, and immediate execution. Only through concerted efforts can we protect our people and prevent further devastation from the relentless fury of our rivers. It is high time the authorities acted decisively to combat erosion particularly in high risk areas so that lives and property may be saved.
