, July 1 -- Although water levels of the Teesta River have started receding thousands of people in northern Bangladesh remained stranded while fresh riverbank erosion is threatening homes, roads, embankments and critical infrastructure in five districts.

At least 20,000 families are still marooned in low-lying and char areas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Nilphamari as floodwaters from the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers continue to fluctuate, according to Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials.

Riverbank erosion has intensified in several areas, displacing dozens of families and putting key flood protection structures and roads at risk.

BWDB Superintending Engineer for Rangpur region Ahsan Habib said...