Brahmaputra River Erosion Leaves 15 Families Homeless in Kodalkati Within a Week

Shafiqul Islam Bebu, Kurigram

The Brahmaputra River has started to erode in Uttar Kodalkati Bepari Para of Kodalkati Union of Rajibpur Upazila of Kurigram. In the past week, the homes of 15 families and about 10 acres of cropland have been submerged in the river. The affected families are living in extreme poverty after losing their homes.

Masud Ahmed, a local UP member of Kodalkati Union, said that severe erosion continues over about 500 meters of the area. Already, the land of 15 people, including Abdul Motaleb, Abdullah, Milan Mia, Ershadul Islam, Saiful Islam, Zahidul Haque and Abu Sayeed, has been washed away by the river.

Milan Mia, a resident of Uttar Kodalkati village who lost his house due to erosion, lamented saying , “All the land went into the river before my eyes, I couldn’t save anything. Now I can’t sleep thinking about where I will raise my small children.”

One of the victims, Zahidul Haque, said, “The cropland and the homestead were gone together. There is not even a bit of land left to rest our heads on. I see no other option but to live under the open sky.”

UP member Masud Ahmed expressed concern and said, “People who have lost their homes are flocking to my house every day in the hope of shelter. I am very worried about where to shelter them in this situation. Moreover, Uttar Kodalkati Mandal Para Government Primary School, Bepari Para Hafiziya Madrasa, Ansar Dilar Para Government Primary School, along with hundreds of homes and hundreds of bighas of cropland are now under extreme threat.”

In this regard, Kurigram Water Development Board (PUB) Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said that a request letter has been sent to the higher authorities requesting for allocation of funds for emergency defense work in the erosion-affected areas. Work to protect the river banks will begin as soon as the necessary allocation is received.