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River erosion along the Brahmaputra has swallowed at least 10 acres of farmland in the past two days in Roumari upazila of Kurigram, leaving farmers worried as their rice crops approach harvest.
The erosion has hit Sukhertabati and Madhyapara villages in Char Shoulmari Union, with another 200–250 bighas of cropland at risk, according to locals. Some farmers have begun cutting immature rice plants to salvage what they can.
Residents said hundreds of acres of farmland and more than 100 homesteads had been lost to erosion over the past year.
Farmer Jelhok said he had already lost around 1.5 acres of land in the latest erosion. Others said they had invested borrowed money in rice cultivation and now feared losing both their crops and their livelihoods.
Local residents urged authorities to take urgent measures, including placing geotextile bags, to prevent further erosion.
Char Shoulmari Union Parishad Chairman AKHM Saidur Rahman said erosion had intensified over the past two days, affecting Wards 6, 7 and 8. Bags placed by the Water Development Board had been washed away by the river, he added.
Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said a shortage of funds had prevented immediate protection work along the char areas, as the agency was prioritising protection of the main riverbanks.