Bangladesh
River Erosion Ravages Northern Bangladesh: Hundreds Homeless as Teesta and Brahmaputra Devour Land
Severe river erosion has hit northern Bangladesh as floodwaters recede, with at least 60 points along the Teesta, Dharla, Brahmaputra, and Dudhkumar rivers collapsing across Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Nilphamari districts. Homes, croplands, and orchards are disappearing into the rivers, leaving hundreds homeless.
Kurigram has been the worst affected, particularly in Sadar, Nageshwari, Rajarhat, and Ulipur upazilas. In Jatrapur union’s Baniyapara village, nearly 50 families have lost their homes and farmland in just two days. “Over 100 bighas of land have already gone under water, and the erosion continues,” said Abdul Gafur, chairman of the Jatrapur Union Parishad.
The Water Development Board (WDB) reported that erosion has appeared at 12 points in Lalmonirhat, eight in Rangpur, six in Nilphamari, and 34 in Kurigram. Kurigram’s WDB Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said, “We need a large quantity of geo-bags to protect the banks, but funds are limited. Some emergency work is underway.”
In Lalmonirhat, the Teesta’s strong currents have swept away farmland and homesteads. “We’re moving our houses to safer places every day as the river keeps eating away our land,” said farmer Subhash Chandra Barman. Another farmer, Abed Ali, said more than 50 bighas of land and 10 homes were swallowed by the river in the past two days.
Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Sunil Kumar said, “The Teesta’s whirl currents are hitting the banks hard, and we’re preparing to place geo-bags in risky areas.”
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Sifat Mehnaz said, “The sudden surge of upstream water caused rapid changes in the river flow, leading to erosion. Lists of affected families are being prepared, and they will receive emergency relief.”
As erosion intensifies, many riverside families have begun dismantling their homes and moving to higher ground. For them, the river that once sustained life is now taking it away.
Bangladesh’s High Court has upheld the death sentences of former police officials Pradeep Kumar Das and Liaqat Ali in the murder of retired Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan, describing Pradeep as the “mastermind” and principal planner of the killing. The 378-page verdict, delivered on 2 June, was uploaded to the Supreme Court website on 23 November.
The court observed that Pradeep was present at the scene and pressed his shoe-clad foot on Sinha’s chest and neck, ensuring his death—an allegation supported by witness testimonies and the post-mortem report. The court further noted that Liaqat Ali fired four shots at the unarmed victim in a premeditated manner, causing his death.
Stating that the trial court had correctly applied Section 302 of the Penal Code, the High Court upheld the earlier sentences: death for Pradeep and Liaqat, and life imprisonment for six others found guilty of conspiracy, aiding the crime, and sharing a common intention.
Major Sinha was shot dead at a police checkpoint in Shamlapur on 31 July 2020. The Cox’s Bazar court delivered the initial verdict on 31 January 2022. Following procedure, the death reference was sent to the High Court, while the convicts also filed appeals. With the High Court verdict now affirmed, the defence is expected to appeal to the Appellate Division once the certified copy is received.
Two people, including a van driver, were killed after a passenger bus struck a van in Chuadanga Sadar’s Alokdia Bazar on Sunday afternoon. Two others were injured, with both critically wounded victims transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
The deceased were identified as Parveen Akhter, 45, of Monirampur village in Alokdia Union, and van driver Ramzan Ali, 26, who later died on the way to the hospital. The injured—Israt from Rajapur and Shabdul from Jhenaidah’s Kotchandpur—remain under treatment.
According to police, the bus was travelling from Chuadanga to Meherpur when it rammed into the van from behind at Alokdia Bazar. One of the van passengers died on the spot. Rescue teams transported the injured to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, from where two were referred to Rajshahi due to their critical condition.
Additional Police Superintendent Mostafizur Rahman said legal procedures are underway and the bodies will be handed over to the families. The bus driver fled the scene after the accident.
Authorities in Meherpur have fined Nivalak Paints Bangladesh Ltd. Tk 200,000 for illegally producing paint. The penalty was imposed during a joint operation conducted by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and RAB on Sunday afternoon.
Mamunul Hasan, Assistant Director of the Consumer Rights Directorate in Meherpur, said the factory had been producing paint without proper authorization for an extended period. During the raid, officials found evidence supporting the violation and imposed the fine accordingly.
The same operation also penalized two other establishments: Shahin Traders was fined Tk 15,000 for selling oil and gas without a valid license, while New Bengal Foods was fined Tk 5,000 for producing bakery items in an unhygienic environment.
RAB-12 Meherpur Company Commander Lt. Wahiduzzaman and Food Safety Officer Riaz Mahmud were also present during the operation,
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