Severe erosion by the Brahmaputra River in Rowmari of Kurigram has left at least 720 families homeless, while more than 100 hectares of cropland have been lost in the past 20 days.
Local sources said the river has also swallowed Sukherbati Adarsha Government Primary School, Char Gendar Alga Government Primary School, and several other structures, triggering panic among riverside people.
Over the past 10 months, homesteads in Sukherbati, Char Gendar Alga, Sonapur, West Khedaimari, Ghughumari, Gendar Alga, and Namajer Char under Chorshoulemari Union have been washed away, leaving families to take shelter on roadsides, others’ land, or in makeshift huts.
Affected residents said the erosion has continued for years, but no effective government steps have been taken, fuelling frustration among locals.
Ghughumari resident Rahima Begum, a widow with three daughters, said her home had been consumed by the river and she was now living by the roadside with no certainty about her future.
Another victim, Sarbesh Pagla, said his wife and daughter are both disabled, making repeated displacement extremely difficult, as he has lost his home three times in the past one and a half years.
Sukherbati resident Fulchan said his house had been lost to the river four times and he is now living on another person’s land, unsure where he would go if forced to move again.
Char Gendar Alga resident Sundari Khatun said her ailing husband cannot earn, and after losing her home five times, she is struggling to survive with her children.
Sukherbati resident Anjuara, a widow, said she is caring for her children alone, including a disabled son, and urged authorities to take steps to stop the erosion.
Another widow, Hajera Bewa, said she has been unable to rebuild her home after losing it and is living in a roadside shack, calling for urgent protective measures.
Local imam Kurbaan Ali Munshi said he is now living on relatives’ land and fears further displacement, adding that no effective government action has been taken to control the erosion.
Chorshoulemari Union Parishad member Samsher Ali said a list of 720 affected families has been submitted to Union Parishad Chairman AKM Saidur Rahman Dulal, but no action has been taken so far.
Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said the erosion has been reported to higher authorities and measures will be taken once funds are allocated, adding that there is currently no budget for emergency work.
