Teesta Erosion Shadows Early Nabanna Festivities
As autumn sets in with the promise of the Nabanna harvest, acute distress has gripped residents along the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat. Following the departure of monsoon waters, severe riverbank erosion has intensified, devouring homesteads, roads, and vast stretches of fertile cropland. In Dauwabari and nearby areas under Hatibandha upazila, relentless erosion over the past week has submerged the homes of at least 20 families and swept away 30 acres of standing Aman paddy into the riverbed. Desperate farmers are being forced to harvest their immature green crops early to feed their cattle before their fields disappear completely.
The devastation intensified as the river’s water levels began to recede, causing strong currents to shift course directly toward the chars and banks. Local public representative Lokman Ali stated that erosion has been destroying homes and farmland for days, and despite visits from officials, no effective preventive measures have been implemented. Addressing the agricultural impact, Lalmonirhat District Agricultural Officer Saikhul Arefin noted that due to severe erosion on both banks, farmers are compelled to harvest raw Aman crops for livestock, with green paddy across roughly 10.5 bighas of land already cut prematurely.
Residents voiced deep frustration over the lack of immediate physical intervention, alleging that authorities have failed to take meaningful steps to stem the destruction. Water Development Board (WDB) officials explained that riverbank erosion naturally worsens as water recedes, but immediate protective work remains stalled due to a lack of current budget allocations. Meanwhile, the upazila administration acknowledged the crisis, clarifying that a list of affected victims is currently being prepared to deliver emergency assistance, while the overall situation has been formally reported to higher government authorities for further action.
The on-ground reality remains dire as families scramble to dismantle and relocate their dwellings amidst collapsing banks and powerful torrents. While some homesteads have already plunged into the river, numerous other structures remain on the verge of destruction, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the region. Although the primary monsoon floods caused relatively limited damage this season, the sudden rerouting of the current has turned post-monsoon recession into a disaster. Affected communities now face an uncertain future, grappling with the sudden loss of both their ancestral homes and agricultural livelihoods.
