Nearly 35 meters of embankment collapse as locals blame lack of permanent protection system

A critical transportation link between Rangpur and Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh is under immediate threat as severe erosion damages the Teesta Road Bridge's protective embankment.

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Since last evening, strong river currents have been hitting the protective embankment directly.

Nearly 35 meters of the embankment, part of an 800-meter protective system, have collapsed into the Teesta River by Saturday morning. This erosion has created a 70-to-75-foot crater, jeopardizing not only the bridge and the Mahipur-Kakina regional road but also over a thousand homesteads and thousands of acres of cropland in six surrounding villages.

Local residents, like Abdul Kader, report strong river currents battering the embankment, causing concrete blocks to fall into the water. They fear the complete collapse of the embankment would lead to inundation of nearby villages and immense losses. Farmer Jamsher Ali Sheikh highlighted that the area had been safe from major erosion since the embankment was built.

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Concrete blocks are collapsing into the river one after another. If the entire embankment is damaged, the bridge and road could face serious risks, and nearby villages may be inundated.

Residents are urging authorities to implement a permanent river management and protection plan, tailored to the river's flow. They point to the temporary bamboo piling installed at a cost of Tk 14 lakh after last year's erosion, which washed away approximately 80 meters of the embankment, as an insufficient measure. Abdullah Al Hadi, chairman of Lakshmitari Union Parishad, stated that they had advised the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to use concrete blocks for a permanent solution, but the temporary measure has now failed.

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Since the embankment was built, the area has not experienced major riverbank erosion. If it is damaged, we will suffer immense losses.

Rabiul Islam, executive engineer of the Rangpur Water Development Board, confirmed that bamboo piling alone is not a long-term solution for the strong currents in the Mahipur Bridge area. He noted that the embankment falls under LGED's jurisdiction but his board is ready to offer technical assistance. Shah Md Obaidur Rahman, an engineer with Gangachara Upazila LGED, stated that the bamboo piling was installed based on expert recommendations and that the latest erosion has been reported to higher authorities.

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After last year's erosion, we advised LGED to install concrete blocks and adopt a permanent solution. Instead, they relied on bamboo piling as a temporary measure. Now the piling can no longer withstand the force of the river current. With the piling damaged, the river is directly hitting the embankment, causing the concrete blocks to collapse.