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Boyarchar in Lakshmipur’s Ramgati upazila is facing continuous erosion from the rivers Meghna and Bhulua, threatening homes, roads, markets and other infrastructure.
The river Bhulua lies to the south of Boyarchar while the Meghna is to its west, leaving the area vulnerable to erosion from both sides. During the monsoon, rising water levels and strong currents intensify the erosion, forcing many families to relocate.
Boyarchar emerged from silt deposits in the Meghna and gradually developed into a settlement with homes, farmland, markets and communication infrastructure. Nearly one million people currently live in the area, according to local residents.
The situation has worsened during the current monsoon. Residents said several sections of the embankment between Bridge Ghat and Chairman Ghat have collapsed. More than 300 houses were submerged after an embankment section at Switchgate gave way. The Water Development Board (WDB) later placed geobags as a temporary measure.
In July 2025, erosion along the river Bhulua caused soil to collapse on both sides of the Boyarchar bridge, creating a large hole in the road and raising fears that the Ramgati-Noakhali road could be severed. In October 2025, a police outpost was washed away, while several shops in the market were also lost to the river.
“Every year the river is breaking, and people are losing their homes. Although some temporary measures have been taken, there has been no permanent solution,” said a local resident, Waresh Majhi. He said tidal water now enters Boyarchar almost every day, damaging roads, schools and madrasahs. Chargazi Union Parishad member Md Didar Uddin said erosion is also reducing farmland and business opportunities while disrupting education, healthcare, transportation and the movement of goods.
Residents are demanding an integrated river management plan, permanent embankments at vulnerable points, river dredging and immediate preventive measures to contain erosion.
Lakshmipur Paubo Executive Engineer Nahid Uzzaman Khan said erosion along the Meghna in Boyarchar had been occurring for a long time and the Paubo had taken temporary measures at different times.
“For a permanent solution, Boyarchar has been included in a project called the ‘Green Leaf Project’. Under the project, an embankment will be constructed along a stretch of about 10 kilometres. The project proposal has been sent to the ministry for approval. Work can begin once approval is received,” he said.