River erosion has occured along the areas adjacent to Teesta and Jamuna rivers in Gaibandha, causing widespread destruction. More than 500 homes, hundreds of acres of agricultural land, and important infrastructure in Habiganj sadar, Sundarganj, Saghata, and Fulchhari upazilas have been washed away by the rivers over the past two months.
The intensity of the erosion is most severe in the Haripur, Kapasia, and Kashim Bazar areas of Sundarganj upazila along the Teesta River. Similarly, in Fulchhari upazila, the Jamuna River has caused erosion at Erendabari, Uria, and Fazlupur, while in Saghata upazila, areas such as Bharatkhaly, Haldia, and Ghuridah, along with at least 20 other locations, have been affected.
Many people, have moved elsewhere in search of safety after losing their homes and lands. Others, driven by emotional ties to their ancestral land, are clinging to the last remnants of their property despite the risks.
The affected residents have called for urgent and permanent measures to control river erosion and prevent further disasters. Families displaced by the erosion are pleading for sufficient relief aid and comprehensive support to rebuild their homes. Due to the lack of shelters, many were forced to pack up their belongings and move to nearby chars, roadside areas, or live under the open sky. Some have set up temporary tents or reassembled tin-roofed structures directly on the ground, enduring extreme hardships, including hunger and malnutrition.
For some families, women, children, elderly members, and livestock have been sent to the homes of relatives, while others remain in dire conditions. Many could not save their belongings, such as furniture, utensils, or clothing, as their homes were swallowed by the rivers. Some victims are left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing when the disaster struck.
Locals blame the rise of several chars in the Teesta River, which they claim has redirected the water currents toward their homesteads and farmland, accelerating the erosion. They have demanded to remove sand from these chars using dredging machines. Some also requested urgent assistance to make their damaged homes habitable again, saying that otherwise, their properties would remain unusable, leaving them exposed to storms and rain.
On Tuesday, affected residents shared that the river erosion had worsened before and after two rounds of flooding and has continued even now during the unseasonal period. In the past two months, over 500 families have lost their homes, while hundreds of acres of agricultural land, trees, and vital infrastructure have been washed away. Many of these families are now taking refuge on embankments, roads, or on the property of other people. Despite losing everything, no substantial help has reached them yet.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the slow progress of projects meant to address river erosion. Although the Water Development Board (WDB) initiated 46 projects worth Tk 830.96 crore in the 2024–25 fiscal year for riverbank protection and flood control, residents claim there is little progress. They allege that the WDB is resorting to temporary measures, such as dumping geobags filled with sand, instead of implementing meaningful solutions.
The affected people have demanded a more thorough and permanent approach to address the erosion, suggesting that vulnerable areas be identified and preventive measures be taken immediately. They have also called for the completion of ongoing projects on the banks of the rivers without delay.
Hafizul Haque, Executive Engineer of the Gaibandha Water Development Board, said that 46 projects aimed at riverbank protection and flood control on the right banks of the Teesta and Jamuna rivers are currently underway with a total budget of Tk 830.96 crore. These projects, which began in January 2021, are scheduled to be completed by December 2026.
So far, 46.80 percent of the work has been completed. Efforts are ongoing to complete the work on time. In the meantime, emergency measures, such as placing geobags filled with sand at erosion-prone points, are being taken to prevent further damage. Additionally, several new permanent projects have been proposed for approval, which, once implemented, are expected to provide long-term solutions to the erosion crisis.
