300 structures disappear as Bakkhali erosion fury rages

COX'S BAZAR, Sept 19: Erosion fury of the Bakkhali in Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar is threatening existence of a large number of structures on the river's bank.

Onslaughts of the river erosion have intensified in the recent time after the latest spell of flood caused by heavy rainfall was over.

Trails of devastation left by the flooding in several thousand structures including houses, roads, educational and religious institution and shops on the river banks are getting clear after the floodwater receded.

Cox's Bazar district was almost entirely inundated by two back-to-back bouts of flood in August and September (current month) this year.

Many important parts of the tourist town and low-lying areas of the district went under floodwater.

It is learnt, about 30,000 people have been living at risk in the riverside areas in various unions of Ramu upazila as erosion by the Bakkhali has been playing its havoc.

Every year during monsoon, hundreds of houses sustain damage thanks to the unremitting river erosion.

This season, around 300 building structures in Ramu upazila were swept away by the erosion.

During a visit on Thursday (September 19), it was seen that hundreds of structures were at risk due to erosion by the Bakkhali River.

Meanwhile, a good number of shops, roads and houses in Dochhari Bazar area were washed away by the river.

An embankment was build on Dochhari riverbank in the upazila's Kachchhia union many years ago to prevent erosion, but now the embankment has now broken down and disappeared.

About 20,000 people in the region are suffering for the river erosion during the monsoon every year.

Meanwhile, numerous homesteads at Purbapara village in Kawarkhop union are also facing erosion risk. In Rajarkul union, the Shikolghat-Monirjheel road has also collapsed under the influence of river erosion.

CC blocks in Julekhar neighbourhood adjacent to Temuhani station of Fatekhanrkul union have moved away and many nearby structures including Ramu-Marichya road are also at risk.

Apart from this, Kajarbil, South Mithachhari and Chakmarkul of Gorzonia union of the upazila are under erosion threat.

Jahangir Selim, a resident of Dochhari area of Kachhapia union, said that every year when there is a flood during monsoon, the two banks of the river are in danger of erosion.

For the past five years, the banks of the canal have been breached, causing most damage to roads, houses and structures.

About 20,000 people of the area are affected due to the river erosion. If the government fails to build a durable embankment soon, roads and numerous structures will be lost in the river.

Abu Taher, a businessman in Dochhari Market, said, "My shop was washed away in the river." The water flow in the river was so high that most of the goods could not be removed from the store. About 10 shops in the market were lost in the river.

Local resident Arafat Sujan, a resident of East Kawarkhop, said the bank of the Bakkhali River is flooded every year during monsoon.

"Thousands of houses and structures on the banks of the river were damaged. I strongly request the Water Development Board to take measures on an urgent basis to prevent river erosion," he added.

Environmental activists said that this unusual behaviour of the river is due to sand extraction from the river and cutting of trees on the banks. Sand mining and tree cutting should be stopped to prevent river erosion.

Kachhapia union chairman Abu Mohammad Noman said thousands of people have suffered due to the destruction of roads and other structures. The department concerned has been informed the necessity for construction of a sustainable embankment in a quick possible time.

Executive Engineer of Water Development Board, Cox's Bazar Asif Ahmed said measures are being taken to prevent river erosion. Project proposals have already been sent. Once the project is passed, the work will start.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Salahuddin said that the damage assessment work is going on. The matter has already been informed to the ministry. It is hoped that the repair work of the erosion area will start in the next dry season.

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