Bangladeshi Families Flee Homes as Brahmaputra River Devours Land

As of November 10th, 2025, the people of northern Bangladesh's Kurigram district continue to face a relentless battle against the encroaching Brahmaputra River. Fueled by the effects of climate change, the river has become increasingly unpredictable, eroding land and homes at a faster pace than ever before.

Nurun Nabi, a 50-year-old farmer and father of four, is just one of hundreds forced to repeatedly relocate. He has already had to move his home, built just a year ago on a fragile river island, as the water steadily advances. "The river is coming closer every day," Nabi says, his voice weary with exhaustion. "We are born to suffer. Our struggle is never-ending."

Across the region, families are losing not only their homes but also their rice and lentil fields, livestock, and other assets as the Brahmaputra, Teesta, and Dharla rivers continue to devour the land. The temporary river islands, or "chars," where many reside are among the most vulnerable areas, with residents forced to rebuild time and again only to see their efforts washed away.

"The water comes without warning," explains 70-year-old farmer Habibur Rahman, who has lived on several chars. "You go to sleep at night, and by dawn, the riverbank has moved. You wake up homeless. There is no peace in our life."

As the world turns its attention to the upcoming UN climate summit in Brazil, the plight of these Bangladeshi families serves as a sobering reminder of the real-world consequences of global warming. With accelerated glacial melt and increasingly erratic monsoons, the situation is only expected to worsen without stronger international support and climate financing to help vulnerable nations like Bangladesh protect lives and land.