Socioeconomic consequences of riverbank erosion and accretion along the Dhaleshwari river in Tangail district of Bangladesh

This study investigates 30 years of morphological change along the Dhaleshwari River using multi-temporal Landsat imagery and supervised classification to quantify erosion and accretion between 1993 and 2023. The analysis reveals alternating phases of major land loss and recovery, with severe erosion during 1993–1998, peak accretion in 1998–2003, and relatively balanced dynamics in recent years. Despite slight net accretion over the full period, frequent channel shifting continues to create instability for riverbank communities. A household survey of 100 respondents shows that erosion causes repeated displacement, loss of agricultural and homestead land, occupation shifts, and substantial economic losses. Damage to houses, roads, schools, and health facilities further deepens vulnerability, while limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare exacerbates health risks such as malnutrition and waterborne diseases. These findings highlight that riverbank erosion is both a physical and socio-environmental hazard, requiring integrated planning, improved warning systems, and targeted community support.