Brahmaputra’s Relentless Erosion Devastates Kurigram, Leaving Thousands Displaced
The spectre of climate change is amplifying the Brahmaputra River’s destructive power in Kurigram, exacerbating a long-standing crisis that has uprooted thousands, consumed vast swathes of land, and plunged vulnerable communities into a perpetual state of uncertainty. For decades, the mighty river has been steadily gnawing away at its banks across this northern district of Bangladesh, dramatically reshaping its geography and forcing hundreds of thousands to abandon their homes, often multiple times, only to witness their new beginnings swallowed by the relentless currents.
The Brahmaputra, originating in India’s Assam region, enters Bangladesh through the Narayanpur union of Nageshwari upazila. From there, it carves a path through Kurigram Sadar, Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari, and Char Rajibpur, before eventually merging with the Padma at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, where it transforms into the Jamuna River. Local accounts suggest that a significant stretch, approximately 70 kilometres long, from Narayanpur to Rajibpur, has been subjected to continuous erosion since the 1950s. This persistent assault has resulted in the partial or complete erosion of substantial areas within several unions, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and a profound alteration of the district’s physical contours.
The consequences of this relentless erosion extend far beyond the loss of homes. Agricultural lands, the lifeblood of the local economy, have vanished. Educational institutions, vital for the future of the region’s youth, have been claimed by the river. Religious establishments, centres of community life, have been swept away. This widespread destruction has inflicted a severe blow to the local economy and irrevocably damaged the social fabric of these affected communities.
A Proposed Solution Amidst Growing Despair
In an effort to confront this escalating crisis, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has put forth a comprehensive riverbank protection project. This ambitious undertaking is valued at approximately Tk 850 crore and is specifically designed to fortify the left bank of the Brahmaputra. The project’s primary objective is to safeguard a critical 16.305-kilometre stretch of vulnerable riverbanks spanning across the upazilas of Ulipur, Roumari, and Rajibpur.
The proposed timeline for the project’s implementation is from January 2026 to June 2029. Key areas slated for protection include:
- Ulipur Upazila:
- Saheber Alga
- Habiganj Bazar
- Namajer Char
- Sonapur
- Ghughumari
- Sukher Bati
- Roumari Upazila:
- Phulua Charghat
- Rajibpur Upazila:
- Kodalkati
- Hajipara
- Char Neoyaji
BWDB officials have confirmed that the project proposal has undergone the necessary surveys and has been formally submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources. It was subsequently forwarded to the Planning Commission on March 2, but is still awaiting final approval.
The Human Cost of Erosion: Voices from the Frontlines
The residents living in the erosion-prone areas paint a grim picture of their daily existence, marked by constant hardship and the recurring trauma of losing their homes. Sharafat Ali, a 56-year-old from Saheber Alga in Ulipur, shared his heartbreaking experience: “I have built my house five times in my life, and each time it was taken by the river. I don’t know where to go now.” His words echo the profound sense of hopelessness that pervades these communities.
Rahila Khatun, also from Saheber Alga, expressed a similar sentiment of despair: “The river has taken everything from me. I now live on someone else’s land with my children, and I fear the monsoon every year.” The annual monsoon season, a period of natural abundance, has become a time of dread for these families, as it brings with it the imminent threat of further destruction.
The economic devastation is equally stark. Zaidul Islam, a farmer from Phulua Char in Roumari, recounted his plight: “It is becoming impossible to survive after losing our homes again and again. If immediate steps are not taken, we will become completely homeless,” said Zarina Khatun from Char Rajibpur. Zaidul Islam was forced to abandon his farming livelihood after losing 10 bighas of his land to the river, and now works as a day labourer to make ends meet.
Urgent Call for Action and Expert Perspectives
Local representatives have amplified these desperate pleas, urging the government to take immediate and decisive action to avert a looming humanitarian disaster. Mozzaffar Hossain, chairman of Saheber Alga union in Ulipur, highlighted the severity of the situation: “People have had to relocate five to six times. Without a sustainable embankment, a major humanitarian crisis is inevitable.” Representatives from Roumari and Rajibpur have voiced similar grave concerns, underscoring the urgent need for intervention to curb the ongoing erosion.
Experts attribute the worsening situation to the inherent instability of the Brahmaputra River. Professor Shafiqul Islam Bebu, president of the Kurigram District Char Development and Implementation Organisation, explained, “The Brahmaputra is an extremely dynamic river. On average, it erodes about 50 metres of its banks each year, destroying homes, farmland and infrastructure. Over time, this is intensifying poverty and humanitarian challenges.” He also stressed the importance of regular dredging, in conjunction with embankment protection, to maintain the river’s navigability and mitigate its erosive tendencies.
BWDB Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan confirmed that a project proposal has been meticulously prepared after identifying the most vulnerable areas. He assured that work would commence promptly upon securing the necessary approvals.
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Climate Vulnerability
As residents await the project’s approval and implementation, they hold onto a fragile hope for protection from the relentless erosion and a return to some semblance of stability in the char areas. This situation in Kurigram serves as a stark reminder of Bangladesh’s disproportionate vulnerability to climate change. Despite contributing less than 0.5 percent to global carbon emissions, the nation finds itself at the forefront of experiencing some of the gravest consequences. Projections from the World Bank indicate a grim future, with climate-related disasters potentially displacing one in every seven people in Bangladesh by the year 2050. The fate of thousands in Kurigram hinges on swift and effective action to combat the Brahmaputra’s destructive force.
