FARIDPUR, Apr 08 (UNB): For generations, people living along the Madhumati River have fought a losing battle against erosion, as entire villages disappeared, homes crumbled into the current and fertile farmlands were consumed by the river's relentless force.
Now, after decades of suffering and appeals, that long-standing nightmare may finally be nearing an end.
The long-sought construction of a permanent embankment along the Madhumati River has officially begun-ushering in a wave of hope, relief and cautious optimism among residents in Faridpur's Alfadanga, Boalmari and Madhukhali upazilas.
The 7.5-kilometre stretch of embankment under construction aims to protect some of the region's most erosion-prone areas. It's a critical intervention in a region where river erosion has displaced thousands and wiped out homes, schools, mosques, roads and vast tracts of farmland.
A visit to Bajra village in Gopalpur union of Alfadanga upazila reveals the pulse of the project in full swing.
Excavators tear into vulnerable banks, labourers position concrete blocks and geotextile sandbags are being carefully laid to reinforce the structure.
For villagers like Enamul Hasan, Mujahidul Islam, Sharif Habib, Sakhina Khatun, and Rekha Parvin, the sight is deeply emotional. Each has a story of loss-ancestral homes gone, families uprooted and futures constantly threatened.
"We have spent years knocking on the doors of public representatives and government offices, pleading for a permanent solution. Now that construction has finally begun, we can once again dream of a secure future. We are grateful to those who have made this project a reality," said Hasan.
TheBangladesh Water Development Board is overseeing the project, which is being implemented under 28 individual packages, with 30 per cent of the work already completed.
According to Mohammad Rakib Hossain, executive engineer of the Faridpur Water Development Board, the embankment is scheduled for completion by June next year.
"We aim to complete the project by June next year. Once finished, it will protect farmlands, homes, and public infrastructure from erosion," he said.
The government has allocated Tk 4.81 billion (481 crore) for the project, a significant investment that reflects the scale of destruction and the urgency of a solution.
As work progresses, the region's residents are beginning to imagine a different kind of life-one not defined by the fear of erosion.
They envision safer homes, steady agriculture, and the chance to rebuild communities torn apart by the river's fury. If completed as planned, the embankment is poised to bring transformative change to the lives of thousands. In the words of many in the region, it's not
just about stopping a river; it's about reclaiming their future.
