Residents of Rajibpur in Kurigram demanded a permanent river-protection embankment to shield Kodalkati Union and surrounding char areas from continuing Brahmaputra erosion. The demand was raised at a human chain and rally on Sunday at 5 pm on the riverbank in Paikantari Ballabhpara, organized by the Rajibpur upazila branch of the Char Development and Implementation Council. Erosion-affected women, men, elderly people, youths and local residents joined the programme.

Speakers called for the rapid implementation of a proposed permanent erosion-control project, estimated at about Tk 8.5 billion, from Saheber Alga in Ulipur to Mohanganj in Rajibpur. They also sought compensation for erosion victims and a separate ministry for char affairs, alleging insufficient effective action by the Water Development Board and BIWTA. Speakers said homes, farmland, educational institutions and livelihoods are being lost to erosion.

Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said emergency work placed 522,000 sand-filled geobags at 42 erosion points on several rivers this monsoon, at a cost of Tk 240 million. Six additional erosion points have emerged, with work planned once funding is received. District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath said 174,000 geobags have been arranged for immediate protection measures.