Erosion by Teesta, Dharla: Many rendered homeless in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram

Over 200 families at several villages under different upazilas of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram have been rendered homeless in the last one month due to sudden erosion by the Teesta and Dharla rivers.

According to sources at Lalmonirhat Water Development Board (WDB) and local administration, the two rivers, Teesta and Dharla, continue devouring fresh areas in at least 18 to 20 points at different upazilas of the district.

The erosion took serious turns at some places and already devoured vast arable land and many homesteads.

Moreover, about 400 dwelling houses and several hundred bighas of cropland and other establishment are under threat of being eroded any time, the sources add.

Sixty-three-year-old Maleka Bewa of Purbo Kalmati village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, who lost her husband Abdul Gafur nearly 10 years back, has been a victim of river erosion for at least 13 times in her life.

on August 15, although she was able to shift one of her shanties to other's land with the help of locals, the other went to the Teesta river.

Monnaf Mia, 58, of the village said the Teesta river has devoured his homesteads, orchard and arable land.

Now he is living on other people's land as he cannot afford to buy land and build a house, Monnaf said.

Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Mizanur Rahman said work is going on to prevent erosion-hit areas by dumping sand-fill geo bags.

If the water level in the Teesta river rises, the erosion might take a serious turn again, he said, adding that he has informed his higher authorities to take necessary measures to stop the erosion permanently.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Kamruzzaman Sujan said many families have become homeless and destitute due to erosion by the Teesta and Dharla rivers.

If required measures are not taken immediately to prevent the erosion by the two rivers, the number of homeless people will keep increasing day by day, he added.