Rajshahi, July 15 (V7N) - Widespread riverbank erosion across the Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh is threatening homes, farmland, and flood protection embankments as water levels in the Padma, Jamuna, and Mahananda rivers continue to rise sharply during the early monsoon season.
 
Rivers in Bangladesh’s Rajshahi Division are rising rapidly, triggering severe erosion along their banks and putting large stretches of riverside communities, agricultural land, and flood control structures at serious risk. In many areas, homes and cropland are already being lost to the rivers, while temporary embankments have weakened and, in some cases, sustained visible damage.
 
The Water Development Board (WDB) has responded by deploying geo-bags in emergency zones, but locals say these measures have had limited success in halting the destruction.
 
In Rajshahi, the Padma River has been rising continuously for the past two weeks. Critical areas such as Nimtol in Godagari, Panchabati to Talaimari in Rajshahi city, and parts of Charghat and Bagha upazilas remain unprotected by permanent embankments. During the monsoon, temporary barriers in these areas often fail to withstand the strong currents, leaving riverside residents in constant fear.
 
In Sirajganj district, where the Jamuna River’s water level is surging, erosion has severely affected the upazilas of Sadar, Kazipur, and Shahjadpur. The worst-hit areas include Bhatpiari, Panchthakuri, Shimla, Brahmanboira, and Zia Mor, where sections of the main embankment have already been damaged. Despite the situation, no permanent embankment construction project has been approved yet. Sirajganj WDB Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman confirmed the absence of such projects and stated that geo-bags are currently being used as a temporary measure to prevent further erosion.
 
In Bogura's Sariakandi upazila, the erosion of the Jamuna River has become critical, especially in the Ichamara area. Nearly one kilometer of farmland has already been consumed by the river, now only 300 meters from the main flood protection embankment. Local reports claim that even after spending Tk 12 crore on geo-bag installations, the effort has failed to prevent ongoing erosion. New erosion zones are forming, leaving local communities increasingly anxious. Nazmul Haque, Executive Engineer at the Bogura WDB, noted that emergency repair work has been ordered in vulnerable areas.
 
In Chapainawabganj’s Debinagar area, erosion has already started along the Mahananda River. With the Padma River swelling, additional areas such as Narayanpur and Charbagdanga in Sadar upazila, and Paka and Durlovpur unions in Shibganj upazila are also facing serious erosion threats. SM Ahsan Habib, Executive Engineer of the Chapainawabganj WDB, stated that urgent measures will be taken in areas experiencing rapid erosion.
 
Currently, nearly 250 kilometers of riverbanks across Rajshahi Division are classified as highly vulnerable. Of these, 120 locations have been identified for the construction of permanent embankments. The Water Development Board has submitted a project proposal worth approximately Tk 2,000 crore to the Ministry of Water Resources for approval.
 
As the monsoon intensifies, local communities and officials are calling for faster implementation of permanent river protection infrastructure to avoid further displacement, crop loss, and damage to critical flood defenses.
 
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