The Meghna River, swelling under the impacts of climate change, has pushed 8 to 10 kilometers into human settlements, wiping out villages, farmlands, and marketplaces. Entire communities are being uprooted as devastating erosion continues to destroy lives and livelihoods in Komolnagar upazila.  Sushanta Singha’s report for Ekattor Television, aired on 26 July 2024.

In Sahebganj and two other unions of Komolnagar, once-thriving settlements now exist only in memory. Pointing to the spot where his ancestral home once stood, a displaced villager pleaded for a house under the government’s Ashrayan Project.

“River erosion has forced us to move three or four times already, but there is no escape. Without a permanent home, we have lost our identity,” said one victim, now living by the roadside on the Lakshmipur–Komolnagar highway with dozens of other families displaced by the river.

As one bank collapses, new shoals rise in the middle of the river. Yet, the fertile lands that emerge remain out of reach for victims. Locals allege that influential land grabbers seize these chars, preventing erosion-hit families from cultivating and rebuilding their lives.

“The river destroys one side but creates another. Sadly, the new land is taken over by land grabbers, leaving us with nothing,” said another displaced villager.

Experts warn that climate change is making the problem worse. With rising temperatures and increased natural disasters, the Meghna’s erosion could intensify further unless urgent protective measures are taken.

Locals demand the immediate construction of embankments with sufficient geo-bags to curb the destruction. Without such intervention, they fear future erosion will be even more catastrophic.