At least 13 homesteads have been washed away by continued erosion along the Madhumati River in Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat over the past six months.

Having lost their homes, some affected families have taken shelter at relatives’ houses, while others are staying on land belonging to other people. Several families are reportedly spending their days under the open sky.

Local residents said the riverbank is collapsing every day. As the erosion continues, many more homes, roads and croplands along the river remain at risk.

Sufia Begum, who lost her homestead to the erosion, said her house and land have been swallowed by the river. She is now uncertain about where she will live with her children.

Local resident Rubel said eight houses in his area had already been washed away. He added that other homes located near the river were also at risk.

Md Liton Molla, a union parishad member of Ward No. 9 under No. 7 Atjuri Union, said 21 families in his area had lost their homes to the river. Hundreds of bighas of cropland had also been washed away, he said, calling for the immediate placement of geo-bags to prevent further erosion.

Kamal, another resident who lost his home, said the river advanced so quickly that he did not even have enough time to relocate his house. Having lost everything, he is now in a helpless situation. He urged the authorities to take immediate measures by placing geo-bags along the vulnerable areas.

Local residents alleged that despite the erosion continuing for a long time, permanent protection measures have not been developed in the vulnerable areas. Although geo-bags have been placed temporarily at some locations, they said the measures were insufficient.

They demanded that erosion-prone areas be identified and geo-bags placed on an emergency basis, alongside long-term riverbank protection measures.

Several attempts were made to contact Mollahat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Suman Irene for her comments, but she did not respond.

Residents living along the river fear that if immediate action is not taken, more homes, roads and croplands could be lost to the Madhumati River in the coming months.