River erosion makes many homeless in Lalmonirhat

During the recession of floodwater, many people are losing their houses and lands due to erosion by Teesta and Dharla rivers in different areas of five upazilas under the district.

“I with my five-member family started staying beside the rail line as floodwater entered our house on August 11. We returned home when the water receded on August 17 but we had to take shelter beside the rail line again after a week as the Dharla river devoured our homestead,” said Saiful Islam, 46, at Mogholhat village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

Anwar Hossain, 65, of Etapota village in the upazila said at least 20 houses of the village went into the Dharla riverbed that also devoured part of a mosque.

“Erosion by the Teesta river has turned serious, threatening houses, croplands and infrastructures. I lost three bighas of arable land to the Teesta river after the recession of floodwater and now our homestead on eight decimals is under threat,” said Altafur Rahman, 52, of Gobordhan Ismailpara village in Aditmari upazila.

“Fifty-five families of Gobordhan, Islamipara and Kutirpar villages in my union have become homeless due to erosion by the Teesta in last two weeks,” said Mosaddeque Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of Mahishkhocha Union Parishad (UP) in Aditmari.

The river has continued erosion, devouring homesteads, croplands and orchards, he said adding that Water Development Board officials visited the area but no step has been taken yet.

Atiar Rahman, chairman of Gaddimari UP in Hatibandha, said the Teesta has continued devouring homesteads, arable lands and structures in eight villages of the union for the last two weeks, following recession of floodwater.

Krishna Kamol Sarker, executive engineer of WDB in Lalmonirhat, said, WDB officials are providing input and technical support to local people for setting bamboo pilings to check the erosion at the primary stage.

“We are preparing an assessment report on houses and lands that went into the riverbed due to the flood,” he said.