Teesta river erosion: Many families turning homeless in Lalmonirhat

The Teesta River is eroding and in its wake is turning many people landless and homeless in Lalmonirhat.

Many homesteads, arable lands and infrastructure have already been lost to the river. Families are in fear of more erosion in days to come.

Many are moving their houses to safer places for survival, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.

People living in the region said although there has not been much flood this year, erosion has occurred in different areas of Teesta in Lalmonirhat.

Sekendar Ali (60), a farmer from Char Gokunda told The Daily Star that thousands of families at the Teesta shoal have been living in fear of erosion. "Many had to abandon their houses and take shelter on the roads".

Maqbul Hossain (65) of Dakshin Balapara, said the number of families losing homes due to erosion is increasing every day.

"Many have lost their last piece of land but the Water Development Board is not taking any effective step to prevent the erosion," he alleged.

However, Mizanur Rahman, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said, "Work is underway to prevent the river erosion by dumping geo-bags in the most eroded areas. We are inspecting the erosion affected areas".