River erosion takes serious turn in Sirajganj, Faridpur dists

Roving Correspondent

SIRAJGANJ, June 24: Jamuna river erosion has taken a serious turn in Enayetpur area under Chuhali upazila of the district.

Erosion has engulfed many homes, religious institution, educational institution and hospital in the area.

Khawza Yunus Medical Collage and Hospital, graveyards, primary schools, mosques, Madrasah, bazars and roads are in great threat for the bad shape of the embankment.

People of five villages of the upazila are passing their days in fear of erosion.

A vast tract of cropland of Brahmingram, Arkandichar, Jalalpur and Noayapara villages has been devoured by the Jamuna river by the Jamuna river, said Jalil Sarker of Brahmingram village.

Nargis Begum of Jalalpur village said in spite of the hazardous situation the authority of the Water Development Board (WDB) did not heed to the matter at all.

In a recent visit this correspondent found the people of the area are passing busy time to shift their homes to the safe place.

Chairman of Khunmi union Mulluk Chan Mia and chairman of Jalalpur union Sultan Mahmud said the situation is getting worse day by day.

The authority concerned should take immediate steps in this regard, they added.

UNO of Shajatpur Md Nazmul Hossain Khan expressed the hope that higher authority will take necessary steps to save the area from erosion immediately.

UNB adds: In Faridpur, the devastating erosion by the mighty Padma river has taken a serious turn in Char Bhadrasan upazila of the district threatening the river-protection dam.

The people of theupazilaliving beside the dam are passing days in fear of erosion.

The river was only 12 metres away from the locality of Dangi village under Sadar upazila, locals said adding that the entire village may go inside the river anytime.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has spent around Tk 4 crore for the development of the dam by building a concrete road on it.

Moreover, some 26,130 sacks filled with sand were put beside the river bank in the affected areas in three phases, according to BWDB sources.

Wasel Uddin Sikdar, a resident of Dangi village, said river erosion has taken a serious turn in last seven days.

"It will not be possible to protect the main road of theupazilaif necessary measures will not be initiated immediately," he added.

No effective measures were initiated though political leaders of the area had assured the villagers of repairing the road, said Ishak Sheikh, another villager.

Char Bhadrasan Sadar Union Chairman Md Azad Khan said a letter was sent to the higher authority describing the overall situation.

Establishments including school, houses, madrasa and mosque adjoining to the river bank will be disappeared in river very soon ifnecessarymeasure to protect the dam would not be taken immediately, the chairman further said.

BWDB Engineer Sultan Mahmud said a proposal under the sustainable dam protection project was sent to the concerned authority for saving around 2.5kilometersof road.

"The repairing works will be stared soon after the approval of the project," he added.