Rajshahi, July 14 (V7N) – Continuous rainfall and an intensified current in the Padma River have raised serious concerns of erosion along river-adjacent areas in Charghat Upazila of Rajshahi district. Several kilometers of fertile agricultural land in the villages of Gopalpur, Chandanshahor, and Pirozpur have already been swallowed by the river. Primary schools, mosques, roads, and numerous homes are now under direct threat, prompting urgent calls from residents for permanent river protection measures.
 
According to local residents, the river's shifting course over the decades has exacerbated the erosion. Billal Hossain, a 65-year-old resident of Gopalpur, stated, “After independence, the Padma River used to flow along the Indian border near Sahebnagar, skirting our areas. But in the last 35 years, it has gradually shifted and now flows entirely through Bangladesh, eroding the banks at Gopalpur and Chandanshahor. Chandanshahor Mouza has already disappeared from the map, and large portions of Gopalpur and Pirozpur are vanishing. In the past year alone, I’ve lost 10 bighas of my own land, and nearly 200 bighas in total have been consumed, affecting over a hundred families.”
 
Sikandar Ali, a resident of Chandanshahor, said, “River erosion has become a permanent curse for us. My family has lost nearly 50 bighas of land, including our homestead. If this continues, Gopalpur and Pirozpur will soon disappear completely.”
 
A visit to the affected areas on the morning of July 14 revealed extensive damage. Along Ward 9 of Charghat Municipality, about one kilometer of riverbank in Gopalpur and Chandanshahor has collapsed into the river, with large cracks appearing across the embankment. Around three kilometers of river-adjacent land, including hundreds of bighas of farmland, is now in imminent danger.
 
Mosarraf Hossain, another local, stated, “The erosion continues due to nonstop rain, strong currents, and wind. If no action is taken now, the damage will be irreversible. The local administration and the Water Development Board must act urgently.”
 
In response, Partha Sarkar, Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Rajshahi Water Development Board, acknowledged the severity of the situation: “Due to rising water levels, strong currents have developed in the river, causing erosion in several spots. We will inspect the affected areas promptly and take necessary protective measures.”
 
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