A week into late autumn, the Teesta is still eating its banks. At Dauabari in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, and Joyramojha Chollishsal in Lakshmitari union, Gangachara, Rangpur, the homes of 27 families have gone into the river in a week. Locals say at least 50 acres of farmland, much of it with ripening aman, has been lost.
Before the land goes, farmers are cutting their unripe aman to feed their cattle. Lalmonirhat district agriculture officer Saikhul Arefin said erosion on both banks of the Teesta has become so severe that farmers have so far cut 17.5 bighas of aman green.
Residents said the current grew fierce when the Teesta rose recently, and as the water fell it turned towards the char. Some are moving their houses, others making a last attempt to save them. Zahedul Islam said families have lived on the char and farmed it for several years.
Sunil Roy, executive engineer of the Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat, said the erosion worsened as the water fell, but there is no allocation at this time to act. Hafizul Haque, the board's executive engineer in Rangpur, said he had visited and informed his superiors, and action would be taken as the situation requires.
Lakshmitari union chairman Abdullah Al Hadi said the administration and the board had visited but no effective step had been taken. Gangachara upazila nirbahi officer Jesmin Akter said the affected families would be helped.
Bangla Tribune carried the report from BSS.
Photo: Land erosion by the Teesta in Sundarganj, Ibrahim Husain Meraj / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Bangla Tribune
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