More than 50 houses have been washed away by the Teesta River in two unions of Rajarhat  upazila  in the last 45 days.

Heavy rainfall and the onrush of the upstream water triggered the Teesta river banks erosion, rendering many people living on the river banks homeless.

Hundreds of bighas of cropland, trees, ponds, and mosques have also been affected by the river erosion.  People of the area have become helpless as the authorities concerned are  yet to take any preventive measures to stop river erosion, said locals.    

Only two kilometers of the 43 kilometers river banks have been protected while the rest area remained unprotected. 

As a result, houses, trees, and cropland are washed away every year.  Educational institutions, bazars and mosques and temples are under threat of erosion, they said.

Currently, river erosion has taken serious turn in 6 kilometers area in Gharialdanga and Bidyananda unions of the upazila.

 The Water Development Board is trying to save the river banks by dumping geo bags in the river as temporary measures.

A total of 17 houses of Bogurapara, Ramhori, Kitabgaon, and Burirhat have been devoured by the  Teesta River recently despite the efforts of the Water Development Board.

Locals have urged the authorities concerned to save their houses and other establishments from the river erosion.

Mondol Ali, son of late Bande Ali of Kitab Khan village under Bidyananda union, said, “We live on the bank of Teesta. But there is no option expect dumping geo bags to control the river erosion. I have no idea how we will survive here.  We have no idea how long we can survive here.”

Meheron of Ramhori village of Gharialdanga said, “River has taken all of my properties including cropland. I have sold trees worth Tk 5 lakh only at Tk 90,000 fearing the erosion in the Teesta River.  If the river washes away my house, then we will turn homeless.”

Abdul Baten, UP member of No. 1 ward under the Gharialdanga union said, the measures taken by the Water Development Board are inadequate to protect the 6-7 kilometers long area from the river erosion. 

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Contacted, Kurigram Water Development Board executive engineer Abdullah Al Mamun said, “We have saved several points of the Teesta River. Now erosion has started in new places. We are trying to save the river banks from erosion after contacting with the higher authorities. “

Also read: Char people of Kurigram rebuild their lives defying flood and erosion devastation

Teesta River training will be possible after launching the work of the mega project, he added.