Seventy-year-old Nowsher Ali of Teesta Par was once a farmer. But, he lost everything in Teesta flood. Now Nowsher Ali is returning home with the load of Teesta Char, Teesta River, Kalmati, crops on his shoulders. Nowsher Ali was once a farmer. But, he lost everything in Teesta erosion and now he is a worker. 15 bigha of his land was lost in Teesta. Nowsher Ali works on other people’s land for 300 taka per day. From 8 am to 5 pm. Nowsher said, ‘A few years ago, there was happiness in our foreheads. Teesta Hama’s forehead is so happy. Teesta’s charot bhugi are awake but Eilat is bare sand and sand. There is no harvest yet. I never thought that Mok Mines’ Bhuyot Kamla Dawa would be born. Forehead fault. Allah has written this on our foreheads.’
He also said, ‘Bianca eats rice and goes home. All day mukhot and no food. Isong returned home before evening. After eating the food of the day read the Nindi. If you don’t want to work suddenly, you don’t have to eat or drink. Gramot Karo Cachot Howlad also Nang. Saleha Begum (52) was returning home in the afternoon after working from morning to harvest crops in Teesta pastures. He had a load of hay on his head, and his eyes and face were dry with fatigue. Saleha Lopaha said, ‘Once there were many ruins in Hamargeula. Mala had a big house. We had a cowshed in our house, and cows were in the cowshed. There is nothing here and there. Sokgula cultivated Bhui and Bhitebari are lying in the banks of river Teesta. We live our lives and earn money with Kamla.’
Salehar’s house was once in Char Kalmati of Khuniagach Union of Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila. Having lost their arable land and habitations in Teestar Karal Grass, they have taken refuge in other people’s land in Kholahati village. Her husband Ayub Ali (58) is ill. Saleha Begum said that they had land and housing even 13-14 years ago. Her husband had 9 bighas of land. They have lost everything due to Teesta river erosion and have become destitute. In other words, he could not educate his children. Her husband has fallen ill after losing his home and land due to river erosion. So he has to run the family by daily wage. Work whole day and get 180-200 taka wages. Although he can eat rice in the morning and at night, he is not lucky enough to have lunch.
He said, ‘Mui sapnoto bhavong nai mok dinao kamala diya kamai kora naigbe. There was no shortage in our family. We were all happy. Teesta river has taken away the souk of Hamargula. Teesta Hamakgulak is making Fakir. Do not break this rice. Professor Nazrul Islam Haqqani, President of ‘Tista Bachao Nadi Bachao’ Sangram Parishad, told ‘The life of every person in Teestapara is a story, these stories are real. If you go to Tistapar, you will see the life struggle of the people of Tistapar. Each of these people was once wealthy. However, they have become landless due to the loss of arable land, habitations and resources due to floods and river erosion. He also said, ‘If the river Teesta was dug scientifically and flowed in a channel, many lands of Teestapar would have been arable. In this the people of Teestapar would get back to normal life.
