As floodwaters recede, the Teesta River in Kurigram is witnessing severe erosion, devastating approximately 200 homes in the Rajarhat and Ulipur upazilas along a 40-kilometre stretch.
The on-going erosion at 10 different spots is causing the river's left bank to erode by an average of 10 meters, placing hundreds of acres of farmland and several educational institutions at risk. This alarming situation has left local residents and representatives in distress.
A visit to the erosion-affected areas in the five unions of Rajarhat and Ulipur revealed the residents' despair, according to UNB local correspondent.
Abdul Kuddus Pramanik, chairman of the Gharial Danga Union in Rajarhat upazila, said that over 100 families in his union have lost their homes due to the floods. In the past three days alone, 20 homes in Khitab Kha Bara Dargah and Burir Hat areas have been swallowed by the river, with the Bara Dargah Government Primary School also facing imminent risk.
Tajul Islam, chairman of the Bidyanand union, said erosion continues in his union, with 13 homes in the Char Bidyanand and Tayeb Khan areas being engulfed by the river.
In Ulipur, Liaquat Ali, chairman of Daldalia Union, reported that seven homes in Karpura Sardar Para have been lost to erosion. Ataur Rahman, chairman of Thetrai Union, mentioned that 45 homes and several acres of farmland in Char Goraipiya, Char Juan Sutra, Nagarpara, Paschim Kishorepur, and Bamanpara have been eroded, with several educational institutions also under threat.
In Bajra Union of the same upazila, the areas of Saduya, Damarhat, Khamar Damarhat, Sata Laskar, Paschim Bajra, and Char Bajra have seen 100 homes disappear into the river due to severe erosion.
Abdul Hai, the district relief and rehabilitation officer, said that they provided one to two bundles of corrugated iron sheets to those affected by natural disasters upon receiving applications. However, there are currently no allocations available, with more supplies expected in August.
Rakibul Hasan, the executive engineer of the Kurigram Water Development Board, said that the Teesta River traverses 40 kilometres from Kurigram to Kamarjani in Gaibandha district before merging with the Brahmaputra River.
Erosion continues at ten spots along this stretch, with the left bank receding by an average of 10 meters. Efforts to combat erosion with geobags are ongoing, and they are striving to address the issue effectively, he added.
