Teesta waters recede, erosion leaves thousands stranded

Although water levels in the Teesta River have started to recede, thousands of people in northern Bangladesh remain stranded as fresh riverbank erosion threatens homes, roads, embankments and critical infrastructure in five districts.

At least 20,000 families remain marooned in low-lying and char areas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Nilphamari as water levels in the Teesta, Dharla River and Dudhkumar River continue to fluctuate, according to the Bangladesh Water Development Board.

Riverbank erosion has intensified in several areas, displacing dozens of families and putting flood protection structures and roads at serious risk.

BWDB Superintending Engineer Ahsan Habib said at least 65 families have lost their homes to river erosion over the past two days across the five northern districts.

He warned that water levels could rise again over the next few days, prompting authorities to use loudspeakers to alert residents in vulnerable char areas to stay prepared.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the next two days in Rangpur Division and upstream areas of West Bengal, followed by moderate to heavy rainfall for another three days.

BWDB officials said the Teesta may rise again and cross the danger level within the next three days.

In Gangachara Upazila, strong currents have damaged the Teesta Bridge protection embankment and groynes along the river’s right bank.

Floodwaters have inundated vast low-lying areas in Kolkonda and Lakkhitari unions, leaving many families stranded and cutting off communication with char villages.

Jute fields, groundnut farms and Aman seedbeds have gone underwater.

Severe erosion has also been reported in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, while the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers continue eroding riverbanks, leaving riverside residents in uncertainty.

Residents said nearly 150 metres of a bridge protection embankment at Mahipur have already been washed away.

The erosion now threatens the Second Teesta Road Bridge, the Rangpur-Kakina regional highway and thousands of nearby homes.

Road sections near the bridge have developed large cracks, sinkholes and subsidence, creating major risks for commuters and vehicles.

Upazila Engineer Shah Md Obaidur Rahman said inspections are underway and repair work will begin as soon as possible.

Hundreds of homes, educational institutions, rural roads and croplands across the five districts remain under knee-deep water.

Residents say they are struggling with shortages of food, safe drinking water and livestock feed, while farmers fear extensive damage to Aman rice seedbeds and vegetable fields.

The Department of Agricultural Extension said preliminary estimates show floodwaters have inundated about 320 hectares of Aman paddy, eight hectares of black gram, 860 hectares of seed groundnuts and 790 hectares of vegetable fields in the Rangpur region.

A detailed assessment of crop losses is now underway.

Abdul Halim, a farmer from Char Shankardah village, said floodwaters rose overnight and submerged homes.

“Now the water is receding, but we are worried about river erosion,” he said.

Rahima Begum, now staying at a flood shelter, said she is struggling to care for her children and livestock after floodwater entered her home.

“We have not received any relief yet,” she said.

Farmer Salam Uddin of Kolkonda said his one-and-a-half acres of farmland remain underwater.

“We are also facing a shortage of cattle feed, and our Aman seedbeds may be destroyed,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Kurigram’s Ulipur and Nageshwari upazilas, around 200 metres of flood protection embankment have reportedly been washed away by the Teesta’s strong currents.

Across the river from Baraibari ferry ghat in Gangachara stands a nearly seven-kilometre earthen embankment built by local villagers through donations and voluntary labour.

For the past three years, the embankment has protected nearly 12,000 families in five villages from flooding.

Now, rising water and strong currents are eroding parts of the structure, raising fears that further collapse could trigger widespread flooding.

The BWDB has placed around 200 geo-bags along vulnerable sections to slow the erosion.

Local representatives criticised what they called delayed preventive measures.

Lakkhitari Union Parishad Chairman Abdullah Al Hadi said timely placement of geo-bags could have prevented much of the damage.

Balapara Union Parishad Chairman Ansar Ali warned that if upstream flows continue to rise, more riverside villages could be flooded.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam said the administration is closely monitoring the situation and preparing lists of affected families for relief distribution.

Residents, however, say emergency relief alone will not solve the recurring crisis.

They are demanding permanent rehabilitation for erosion victims and long-term river management projects to protect communities along the Teesta from repeated flooding and riverbank erosion.