Lakshmipur: The relentless erosion of the Meghna River has forced thousands of families in Komolnagar upazila into climate-induced displacement, stripping them of ancestral homes and farmlands. Residents claim that if geo-bags had been placed on time to protect embankments, many families could have been spared the devastation. This is the first part of a special series by Sushanta K. Singha.Story on aired 26 July 2024.

Elderly Hossain Ahmed is among those facing an uncertain future. Though his eyesight remains sharp, his world has plunged into darkness. His croplands have already vanished, and recent floods have swallowed half of his homestead. Now, his family lives in constant fear—cutting trees to cope with erosion while anxiously searching for a place to call home.

“The Meghna’s erosion in Komolnagar and Ramgati is becoming more aggressive every day. Timely steps with adequate geo-bags could have saved many families,” locals said, pointing to government inaction.

Ahmed’s wife, nearly speechless with grief, struggles to care for their disabled daughter after losing everything. Their granddaughter, meanwhile, recalled happier childhood memories of her grandparents’ home—once surrounded by mango, coconut, betel nut, guava, and other fruit trees—all of which the Meghna has now claimed.

Experts warn the problem is worsening. Rising temperatures are pushing sea levels higher, driving not only greater erosion but also increased salinity in Bangladesh’s coastal belt.

Dr. Ainun Nishat, Climate and Water Specialist, said: “The rise in sea level due to climate change is intensifying erosion and salinity intrusion in coastal areas.”

Hossain Ahmed’s tragedy is only one among countless families along the Meghna’s banks—entire communities uprooted, their lives reduced to uncertainty and despair.