River erosion displaces over 15,000 people annually: Khosru
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury shared the BBS data in parliament today, noting that more than 15,000 people lose their homes to the disaster every year.
River erosion displaces an average of more than 3,500 families, or over 15,000 people, every year across Bangladesh, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told the parliament today (10 September).
"The river erosion situation does not remain the same every year. Its severity changes depending on location, time, and natural conditions," the minister explained.
He shared the information in a written response to a query from Shamsunnahar Begum, a lawmaker from a reserved seat for women, during Thursday's parliamentary question-and-answer session.
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Citing data from the Sample Vital Registration System (SVRS) 2022 and 2023 reports by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Khosru highlighted the persistent rate of displacement caused by the natural disaster.
Lawmaker Shamsunnahar had sought data on the total number of families affected by river erosion over the last 20 years across various parts of the country. She also asked whether these uprooted families were receiving benefits under government rehabilitation or Ashrayan projects.
However, the minister's written reply did not provide the requested two-decade statistics or specify the exact number of displaced families currently receiving government housing assistance.
