Continuous rainfall and an upstream surge have triggered severe erosion along the Jamuna River at Shaharbari village in Dhunot upazila of Bogra, submerging parts of the Shaharbari ferry terminal and sweeping away nearby shops and farmland.
Strong river currents caused a large banyan tree at the terminal—planted nearly 25 years ago by BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman—to collapse into the water, along with several adjacent businesses.
Locals say the tree once offered shade to char residents waiting for boats and had become a symbol of the area.
Residents and embankment protection volunteers report that nearly 100 meters of land have vanished into the river over the past two days.
Most businesses have already relocated, but some structures were lost before evacuation was possible.
Villagers have accused Belal Hossain, relief affairs secretary of the Dhunot upazila unit of Jubo League and lessee of a local sand quarry, of contributing to the erosion through unrestricted sand extraction.
They allege that Hossain began operations during the previous Awami League government and continues to extract sand with the backing of influential BNP leaders following the recent political shift.
“Belal ignored repeated requests to stop sand lifting near the ferry terminal,” said residents Shafiqul Islam, Mizanur Rahman, and Soikat Hasan.
“His activities have accelerated the collapse of the riverbank.”
Resident Bachchu Mia claimed that nearly 300 bighas of land north of the Shaharbari spur were lost last year due to unchecked sand mining.
“These sand miners must be brought under the law,” he said.
Officials from the Bogra Water Development Board (WDB) confirmed that heavy rainfall and upstream flow have raised water levels in the Jamuna, creating strong currents and whirlpools that initiated the erosion.
Sub-Divisional Engineer Sohel Rana said geo-bags filled with sand had previously been deployed to protect the embankment.
“Water levels in the Jamuna rose by 99 centimeters on Wednesday but remain below the danger level,” Rana said, adding that levels are expected to recede within two days.
Locals warn that without immediate intervention and stricter regulation of sand extraction, the erosion could worsen, threatening more farmland, infrastructure, and livelihoods in the region.
