The erosion by the Teesta and Dharla rivers has taken a serious turn, causing havoc in some unions of Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Adimari, and Lalmonirhat sadar upazila of the district in recent times.
Several thousand acres of cropland and homesteads have been devoured in the belly of the mighty river. Many of the flood victims are now street beggars after losing their lands and houses to the river.
Now they are living on the flood protection dam and others' lands. Especially, hundreds of villagers of Mogolhat, Rajpur, Khuniagach, Khulaghat and Gokunda unions of Gobordhon sadar, Balapara, Khutirpar of Mohishkhocha unions of Aditmari, Goodimari, Singgimari, Parulia of Hatibandha and some parts of Dhohogram and Angorpota under Patgram upazila are most affected by the erosion of the river. As the water has started receding, the erosion takes a serious turn in these areas.
Visiting Char Gokunda village of Gokunda union under sadar upazila it was seen that several hundred acres of arable lands have already been devoured by the Teesta in recent times. Many people have already shifted their household articles to safer places due to erosion.
Shofiqul Islam, 65, a villager of Char Gokunda, said that he lost three acres of land. Like him hundreds of farmers lost their homesteads and now living on others' land.
Jesmin Begum, 40, a housewife of the village, said they lost their land to the Teesta and now living in another place. The erosion has taken a serious turn from Char Gokunda village to Burirhat under Rajarhat Upazila of Kurigram district.
Char Gokunda High School is under threat as the erosion is taking place only 130 metres away from the school. A four- storied new school building under facilities department has been completed recently. The authority is yet to hand over the building as the school is closed due to pandemic situation.
Golam Rasul, headmaster of the school, said, "We are in fear of erosion as the river is very near to the school”. He also said they have already informed the respective department of the matter to take necessary step."
Golam Mostofa Shopon, chairman of Gokunda union, said, "The erosion has taken a serious turn in this area. A vast tract of cropland and a good number of homesteads have been eroded in the last two years."
Mosaddek Hossen, chairman of Mohiskhocha union under Aditmari Upazila, said, "Twenty-three homesteads have gone into the river in last one month. Local administration has given 10-kg rice each to 18 hundred flood victims."
When asked, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board (WDB) Mijanur Rahman said, "We have already filled geo-textile bags in two major points of erosion to protect three school buildings and a mosque and some houses. But the erosion has become serious in the area."
