5 villages washed away in Teesta erosion in Kurigram

Due to continuing erosion of the Teesta, five villages, Char Gatiashyam, Bogurapara, Khitab Khan, Nakenda and Dhusmara of Gharialdanga union, of Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram were completely washed away into the river.

"More than 2,000 families have lost everything. Six mosques, a government primary school, a community clinic and other infrastructures have been devoured by Teesta RIver," Kafil Uddin (63), a farmer from Char Gatiashyam village told our Lalmonirhat correspondent.

"Now Namabharat village is on the verge of eroding into Teesta," he said.

Arif Hossain, a college student at Namabharat village, said the Water Development Board and the administration were not coming forward to help prevent the erosion therefore, local students have come forward to collect money, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.

Executive Engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board Ariful Islam told journalists that they tried to check the erosion by dumping sand-filled geo bags but it could not be stopped as the erosion was severe.

Rajarhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nure Tasnim told The Daily Star that Tk 5 lakh and 5 metric tonnes of rice had been distributed among the erosion-hit victims.

"A list of the erosion-hit victims is being prepared and they will be assisted by the government to build houses," she said.