River erosion along the Jamuna River has intensified in Dhunat upazila of Bogra amid rising water levels caused by heavy rainfall and upstream inflows, leaving residents fearful of losing their homes, farmland and livelihoods.
Local residents say the erosion is moving closer to the flood control embankment, heightening concerns among thousands living along the riverbanks.
According to the Bogra Water Development Board (BWDB), the Jamuna's water level reached 15.57 metres on Saturday morning, rising nine centimetres over the previous 24 hours. Although the river remains 68 centimetres below the danger mark, water levels continue to increase.
Field visits to the affected areas found strong currents and whirlpools eroding riverbanks at an alarming rate. Farmland, trees and homesteads are being swallowed by the river as sections of soil collapse into the water.
The worst-hit area is a roughly 200-metre stretch between Shaharbari and Baniajan villages, where fresh land is disappearing into the river almost every day.
Farmers including Jewel Sheikh, Mizanur Rahman, Ziaul Haque and Asad Sheikh said they had already lost their homes and several bighas of farmland.
“Everything is disappearing before our eyes,” they said. “Within days, our land and houses have been washed away. If the erosion continues, Shaharbari village could one day disappear from the map.”
Residents alleged that despite severe erosion occurring almost every monsoon, no permanent river protection measures have been put in place. They warned that continued erosion could eventually threaten the flood control embankment.
BWDB Sub-Assistant Engineer Abdul Malek said increased pressure from upstream flows had triggered erosion in several riverside locations.
“Emergency protection work is underway using sand-filled geo-bags and tube dumping to curb the erosion,” he said.
