Residents of areas along the Teesta river in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district are living in fear of losing their homes and crops as erosion has taken a serious turn. Several thousand families living on the riverbanks were facing waterlogging issues due to the torrential rainfall last week. Several hundred hectares of cropland were damaged during this period. But when the floodwater started to recede, panic gripped them as erosion took a serious turn in seven to eight points along the left side of the river. Over the past few days, 25-30 houses, croplands and several establishments were washed away due to the erosion, forcing many families to live under the open sky. Rising river waters trigger flooding, erosion concerns in Kurigram Many have shifted their valuables including furniture on the roadside and near the flood protection dam. Meanwhile, residents of Gobordhan and Garibullatari villages under Mahishkhocha union of the upazila saw severe erosion at the dead night on Tuesday near the embankment. A number of establishments including a mosque have gone into the river. The families of Rabiul, Bhuttu and Yeakub Ali are living under the open sky as their homesteads were washed away due to the erosion. Locals said if the authorities do not take any steps immediately, the embankment would also go into the river. Villagers spend sleepless nights as Madhumati river banks erosion intensifies in Faridpur  They also demanded constructing a permanent dam along the riverbank. Sunil Kumar, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said erosion occurred in seven-eight points along the riverbanks while erosion at spur dam-2 took a serious turn. They have informed the matter to the high official concerned, he said. After visiting the affected areas, GR Sarwar, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Aditmari upazila, said a list of affected people is being prepared and assistance will be provided as per the list. Teesta erosion worsens in Kurigram; 50 homes swept away

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved 10 projects, including a Tk 1,803-crore one, to minimise damages caused by flood and riverbank erosion in four districts -- Pabna, Sirajganj, Tangail and Manikganj. The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Prime Minister and also Ecnec Chair Sheikh Hasina. She joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. The ministers and others concerned got connected from the NEC conference room in the city. Read: City development: Ecnec clears Tk 2,490 cr for Chattogram “Today the meeting approved a total of 10 projects, including five revised ones, with the overall estimated cost of Tk 4,621.34 crore (only additional costs of five projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters. Of the cost, Tk 3,055.21 crore will come from government funds and the remaining Tk 1,566.13 from foreign sources, he said. Talking about Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program (Project-2) involving Tk 1,803.06 crore, he said Bangladesh Water Development Board implemented the project by December 2025. According to the project factsheet of the Planning Commission, Tk 1329.77 crore will come as loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while Tk 151.56 crore from the Netherlands government as project assistance. And the rest will come from government funds.    The project will be executed in Bera, Shahjadpur, Belkuchi, Chouhali, Tangail Sadar, Nagarpur, Daulatpur, Harirampur and Shibalaya upazilas of the four districts -- Pabna, Sirajganj, Tangail and Manikganj. The main objectives of the project include improving the livelihood of the people living in the vicinity of the Jamuna and Padma rivers, developing flood and riverbank risk management through structural changes and enhancing institutional capacity and reducing riverbank erosion. Its major operations include 30-km riverbank protection, 7.9-km dam construction, 40-km adaptation work, 6-km emergency work and 3-km dam management. The other new projects are Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) Office Establishment in Gopalganj, Sunamganj, Barishal, Rangpur, Jamalpur and Jashore with a cost of Tk 1,132.61 crore and Urea Formaldehyde -85 (UF-85) Plant Establishment involving Tk 724.30 crore, Sylhet Region’s Agricultural Development through modern technology with Tk 200.54 crore and Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management (CSAWM) (DAE Part) with a fund of Tk 106.08 crore. Read: Turning Bangladesh into digital economy: Ecnec clears Tk 2,542 cr project The five revised projects are Netrakona-Bishiura-Iswarganj Road Development (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 220 crore (now cost Tk 481.20 crore), Construction of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Bhaban (1st revision) with additional cost of Tk 59 crore (now cost Tk 261.86 crore), Construction of 16 Regional Passport Offices (1st revision) with additional cost of Tk 31 crore (now cost of Tk 128.40 crore and construction of 17 regional passport offices and vertical extension of 4 passport offices). Two other revised projects are Sheikh Hasina Cantonment Barishal Establishment (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 331 crore (now cost of Tk 2030.10 crore), Widening the Approach Road and development of other necessary infrastructure of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Gazipur (3rd revised) with an additional cost of Tk 43 crore (now its cost is Tk 282.06 crore).

In the remote Gashial mouja of Magura district, riverbank erosion along the Garai is a frequent affair. Every monsoon, residents of the mouja see the ground literally disappear into the raging Garai. And over the past couple of years, the erosion has washed away several houses in the area, rendering hundreds homeless. The residents allege that local authorities have never paid heed to their urgent pleas for measures to prevent erosion of the river bank. As a result, the house of Ajit Sheikh is the last structure standing on the edge. Read Climate migration in Bangladesh may increase 7-fold by 2050: ActionAid According to local resident Rustom Biswash, a freedom fighter, a large portion of Gashial mouja has been devoured by the river over the past 50 years. "Erosion is a perennial affair here," he says. "If the authorities concerned do not act immediately, then the mouja could soon become a barren land," he adds. In fact, the residents say that some 1,500 acres of land have disappeared in the mouja in the past few years and nearly 35-40 families in Char-Chougachi village are living with the fear of their houses being swept away. Read Prof. Ainun Nishat joins Bangladeshi teenager’s climate campaign. Owing to poverty and occupational reasons, many people in the village live near the river, which makes them a victim of erosion. The local administration though says that it has dumped more than 15,000 sandbags on the riverbank to prevent erosion in the area. "The sandbags will prevent erosion to a large extent," says Anwar Hossain, a sub-contractor of the Water Development Board. Read Dhaleshwari erosion takes serious turn in Keraniganj The local residents, however, have demanded that the authorities build a river embankment in the area to put an end to the problem of riverbank erosion once and for all. Solaiman Molla, president of River Erosion Protection Committee, says that this is the first time in 50 years that the authorities concerned have placed sandbags, "which is good news for the residents living here" Mohammad Zakir Hossain, chairman of Dariapur Union, said already the dredging and sand-lifting work have been done. Also read: Riverbank erosion displacees await rehabilitation. Engineer Golam Sarwar of Water Development Board, says, "Sandbags have been placed in the 500-metre area along the riverbank and a committee will soon be formed to protect the river. More sandbags will be dumped in phases.”

Originally a resident of the Isaeel Shibrampur area in Goalundo upazila's Daulatdia union, Jalil Sikder now lives with his family in a hutment on a Good Samaritan's land in Nasir Sardar Para. "We were rendered homeless after our house was washed away by the mighty Padma river in front of our eyes last year. Thanks to a benevolent person in Isaeel Shibrampur, we have a roof over our heads,"  he says. Riverbank erosion is a common problem along the Padma during the rainy season. And Jalil is also not the lone sufferer. Over the years, several families in the riverine areas of the upazila's Daulatdia and Debgram unions have been rendered homeless by such engulfing calamity. READ: Padma boat capsize: Bodies of missing AIUB student, cousin found after 8 days Some 2,000 families still living in the riverine areas of the two unions are now spending sleepless nights. Their fears are tangible, with monsoon rains barely a week away. "Every day, the river is washing away some three to four bighas of land. The erosion aggravates during the monsoon when the Padma overflows its banks. It's high time that the authorities took safety measures without any delay," says Hazrat Sheikh, a resident of Devgram's Munshibazar area. "In the past three years, some 300 families have been forced to abandon their houses in Devgram. What we get from the local authorities after every monsoon is only assurances of better preparedness for next year," says Ruby Khatun, a resident of Aziz Sardar Para. Read Riverbank erosion destroys homes and hopes Upazila Chairman Mostafa Munshi admits the problem the riverine areas face during the monsoon. "I have sought Rajbari-1 MP Kazi Keramat Ali's help in this regard," he says. According to the Rajbari-1 MP, all preparations are underway for starting the construction of an embankment from Ferry Ghat to Debgram Antarmor to prevent erosion.  "The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council will soon begin work on Daulatdia and Paturia Ghat modernisation projects worth around Tk 650 crore," he says. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Azizul Haque Khan recently visited the affected areas. "For the time being, the Water Development Board is placing sand bags along the ferry ghat," he says. READ: Padma devours SESDP Model High School in Madaripur

It's an ordeal people living on the banks of the Teesta and Dharla rivers in Lalmonirhat district go through almost every monsoon -- severe erosion of riverbanks. But this year, pre-monsoon showers have caused widespread damage. Since last week, several buildings -- residential and educational -- in many areas of the district have been swallowed up by the mighty rivers, rendering hundreds homeless. Water levels in the Teesta and Dharla have gone up because of incessant showers over the past four-five days. Read Dhaleshwari erosion takes serious turn in Keraniganj While buildings in Mogolhat Folimari in Sadar upazila have been swallowed up by the Dharla, at least 20 houses in Kutirpar, Balapara, Badiartari and Chouraha of  Aditmari upazila's Mohishkhocha union have been flattened by the Teesta.

Bangladesh could see a seven-fold increase of climate migration, forcing 3 million people to migrate from their homes due to climate disasters by 2050.

Illegal and unabated sand extraction is causing serious erosion on a six-kilometre stretch on the bank of Jamuna River in Sirajganj’s Shahjadpur Upazila.

 After years of peaceful existence in the house she had built with her husband at Sardob village in Sadar upazila, Mohila Begum saw the local river swallow it one night.

Residents of Koshabandar village in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon district are living in constant fear of their homes being swallowed by the Tangon river, which is causing extensive erosion of its embankments.

"The pain that riverbank erosion has caused over the past decade is immense. I have lost everything to the natural calamity — my home, my livelihood," says