Brahmaputra erosion in Gaibandha has reached dangerously close to the Balasi ferry terminal, sparking fears of major infrastructure loss and prompting urgent calls for effective riverbank protection before monsoon.
Erosion along the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh has put the Balasi ferry terminal in Gaibandha at risk, raising alarm among riverside residents as the river has advanced to within just 15 metres of the Tk 1.57 billion facility.
The erosion began anew about two months ago in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha, local people said. In the first spell, around 100 metres of land next to the terminal were swallowed by the river. A few days ago, another 40 metres collapsed into the water, deepening fears for the launch terminal, nearby shops, warehouses and other structures along the bank.
Although the Bangladesh Water Development Board has dumped concrete blocks in an attempt to stop the erosion, doubts have emerged over how effective the measure will be.
Business owners and residents in the ghat area said the riverbank has been crumbling a little more each day. Many are preparing to move their businesses, but permanent structures cannot be relocated, leaving them in deep uncertainty.
“The river is coming closer every day as the bank keeps collapsing,” said local businessman Rezaul Karim of the Balasi ghat area. “If the erosion continues like this, the situation could turn terrible when the monsoon arrives.”
Local resident Aslam said the erosion was moving forward before their eyes.
“Land with standing maize is falling into the river with a thud,” he said. “No one is checking on the people living along the riverbank.”
Farmer Azgar Ali said untimely erosion had already eaten away several plots of land.
“I am deeply worried,” he said. “I do not know whether I will be able to bring home my half-ripe maize, which I grew through loans and hardship.”
Residents have demanded urgent river protection work before the monsoon begins. They warned that without immediate and effective measures, the important terminal and a vast surrounding area could be lost to the river.
Gaibandha Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Shariful Islam said efforts had been made to contain the erosion and the matter had been reported to higher authorities.
“We have tried to take measures to prevent the erosion,” he said. “The matter has been informed to the higher authorities.”
He said engineers had already visited the site and there were plans to take necessary steps quickly.
The Balasi ferry terminal, an important transport point for people from the northern region travelling to Dhaka and other districts, was built in 2021. The cost rose in two phases to around Tk 1.57 billion. Two modern terminals were constructed at Balasi in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha and at Bahadurabad in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur.
The ferry service, once considered important, was shut down in 2005 because of navigability problems and a change in the course of the Jamuna River. The terminal now lies unused, and its exposure to erosion has raised questions about the durability of the infrastructure.
Local people fear the Brahmaputra current will grow stronger once the monsoon starts, making the erosion even harder to control. They are demanding immediate riverbank protection work both upstream and downstream to save the area.
