Kurigram: Along the northern plains of Kurigram district, the mighty Brahmaputra River is steadily claiming the land of thousands. For farmers like Nurun Nabi, 50, the river’s encroaching waters are not just a seasonal nuisance but a constant threat to his home and livelihood. Living on a char a fragile river island Nabi has witnessed his house, fields, and possessions disappear under the swelling current multiple times. “The river is coming closer every day … we are born to suffer. Our struggle is never-ending,” he says, as he loads bamboo poles and tin sheets onto a wooden boat for yet another relocation.
The scale of erosion in northern Bangladesh is staggering. Each year, hundreds of families are uprooted as riverbanks collapse, leaving homes, fields, and livestock swept away overnight. The chars, formed by shifting river sediment, are among the most vulnerable regions. For many residents, displacement is routine. Kosim Uddin, father of seven, estimates he has been forced to move more than 30 times. Women, such as Shahina Begum, have endured repeated relocations, cooking meals in waist-deep floodwaters during one particularly devastating monsoon season.
Experts link the intensifying erosion to a combination of natural and climate-driven factors. Accelerated glacial melt in the Himalayas has increased water flow in the Brahmaputra and Teesta rivers, while erratic monsoon rains have disrupted traditional flooding patterns. The rivers’ natural dynamics, combined with loose soil in the chars, amplify the destructive power of these waters. Despite contributing less than 0.5 percent of global carbon emissions, Bangladesh is one of the countries most affected by climate-driven hazards, underscoring the global inequity of climate impacts.
The human consequences of this relentless erosion are profound. Displacement undermines stability and erodes livelihoods. Families repeatedly lose fertile farmland, access to clean water, and reliable shelter. The psychological toll is immense, with chronic insecurity, anxiety, and community disruption becoming part of daily life. Women and girls face additional challenges, navigating safety and household responsibilities amid repeated dislocations.
Bangladesh has undertaken various adaptation measures to protect communities. Geobags large sand-filled sacks placed along riverbanks have helped stabilize some areas, allowing families to remain for longer periods. Elevated housing and raised villages are other innovative interventions supported by NGOs. Yet, experts warn these solutions remain localized and fragile, unable to address the scale of erosion without substantial international support. Ainun Nishat, a leading climate and water resources specialist, emphasizes the urgent need for global climate financing: “If COP30 means anything, it must deliver real funding for loss and damage and help vulnerable nations like ours protect lives and land before it’s too late.”
The plight of Bangladesh is also a cautionary tale for the global community. As world leaders convene at COP30, the situation in Kurigram demonstrates that climate change is no longer a distant threat it is an immediate crisis causing mass displacement and destruction. The country’s experience highlights the urgent need for loss and damage funding, transboundary river management, and proactive planning for communities living on the frontlines of climate change.
Despite repeated losses, the people of northern Bangladesh show remarkable resilience. Families continue to rebuild, adapt, and hope. Their struggle is a testament to human endurance, yet it also serves as a stark reminder that resilience alone is not enough. Without structural solutions and international solidarity, the lands along the Brahmaputra will continue to vanish, and the lives of countless families will remain in peril.