Homes of 27 families lost to the river in a week, Teesta farmers cut unripe Aman to feed cattle as erosion bites

Photo: Collected

River waters have settled, and with the monsoon over it is now late autumn. The mood of the early harvest festival has brought smiles to farmers’ faces. But in the meantime, severe erosion has begun in the basins of various rivers. One area after another is being lost to the rivers, with homes, roads and other infrastructure being swallowed by the water.

The same scene is visible along the Teesta. Bangladesh Water Development Board Lalmonirhat Executive Engineer Sunil Roy said continuous erosion has washed away the homes of 27 families within a week at Dauabari in Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha upazila and at Jayramojha Chollishal in Lakshmitari union of Rangpur’s Gangachara. Cropland is also being eroded. Left with no choice, farmers are cutting their cherished Aman paddy to feed their cattle.

He told BSS that the erosion is intensifying as the water recedes, and that they cannot take action as there is no allocation at the moment.

A visit to the area found riverbanks collapsing under the force of strong currents. Some of the families facing erosion are moving their homes, while others are making last-ditch efforts to save them. In some places homesteads have already gone into the river; in others they are on the brink. Cropland is being lost to the river every day.

According to those affected, when the Teesta’s water rose recently, the currents grew stronger. Later, as the water began to recede, the current changed course and rushed towards the Jayramojha Chollishal char.

Local residents said 27 families on the char have been affected by erosion over the past week. They include Babar Ali, Golapi Banu, Golzar Hossain, Nur Islam, Motiar Rahman, Ahad Ali, Zahura Begum, Asadul Islam, Abdul Haque, Mainul Islam, Shah Alam, Noju Mia, Monnaf Ali, Abul Hossain, Shafiqul Islam, Dulu Mia, Nurul Islam, Nazmul Haque, Jhontu, Belal, Omar and others. Fearing erosion, many have moved their homes elsewhere. At least 50 acres of cropland, including standing Aman paddy, have already been lost to the river in the area. With the erosion continuing, they are living in deep anxiety.

Zahedul Islam, one of those affected, said they have been living on the Jayramojha Chollishal char for several years, farming to support their families. When the Teesta’s current suddenly turned towards the char, the erosion took a devastating form.

Lakshmitari UP Chairman Abdullah Al Hadi told BSS that erosion has been continuing in the Chollishal area for several days. The homesteads and farmland of several families have already been lost to the river.

The upazila administration and Water Development Board officials have been informed. Although they have visited the erosion-hit area, no effective step has been taken so far.

Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jesmin Akter told BSS that a number of families have been affected by the Teesta’s erosion and they will be given assistance. She said the authorities concerned have also been informed.

Rangpur Water Development Board Executive Engineer Hafizul Haque said, ‘Erosion began suddenly in that area after the flood. I have visited the erosion-hit area. The higher authorities have been informed. Necessary measures will be taken to check the erosion depending on the situation.’

Lalmonirhat District Agriculture Officer Saikhul Arefin told BSS that as erosion has intensified on both the left and right banks of the Teesta, farmers are being forced to cut Aman paddy to feed their cattle. So far, farmers have cut unripe Aman paddy from 17.5 bighas of land.

By the numbers

Erosion in the Teesta basin is not new this season. According to a Dhaka Tribune report on 16 September (supplied by UNB), Bangladesh Water Development Board Rangpur region Superintending Engineer Ahsan Habib said erosion was then under way at 113 points in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Kurigram, and at least 386 houses had been lost to the river in seven days.

The same report said 53 houses were washed away in seven days in Rangpur’s Pirgachha, Kaunia and Gangachara, and BWDB officials said funding for erosion control was insufficient.

Sources

Background source: Dhaka Tribune (UNB), 16 September 2026