Severe erosion along the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta rivers has swept away at least 400 homes in Bangladesh’s Rangpur division over the past 30 days, according to a report published on August 6. At least 50 acres of farmland were also lost, leaving hundreds of families without homesteads. Residents in affected areas are dismantling and moving homes to safer places amid fears of further erosion.

Nearly 200 homes were lost in Nilphamari, 150 in Kurigram, 30 in Gaibandha, 17 in Gangachara of Rangpur, and 15 in Lalmonirhat. Fresh erosion has been reported at at least 40 locations across Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Rangpur districts in the Teesta and Brahmaputra basins. Affected residents alleged that the Bangladesh Water Development Board focused on inspections rather than effective protection measures.

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ruhul Amin said the LGED had been instructed to quickly repair damaged roads and that authorities had contacted the Disaster Management Ministry for special funding for roads in char areas. Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rabiul Islam said work had begun to place geobags in newly affected locations. Gangachara residents submitted a memorandum seeking road repairs, embankment protection and sustainable river management.