COX'S BAZAR DISTRICT

Fragile dam in Matarbari leaves 90,000 people panicky

OUR CORRESPONDENT | Published: May 19, 2026 22:23:19

COX'S BAZAR, May 19: Frequent occurrences of collapse for the exposure to strong waves and tidal waters have pushed an embankment in the western part of Matarbari union under Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar into a very precarious and unprotected condition.
As the dam suffers breaches off and on under the impact of strong current and tidal bore, about 80000-90000 residents of the island are passing days panicked amid extreme insecurity and existential crisis.
According to local sources, at least five kilometre stretch of the dam in the western parts of Sitepara, Jelepara, Khandarbil and Rajghat areas of Matarbari has already disappeared into the sea.
During the tide, water enters the locality at a height of 4 to 5 feet higher than normal. As a result, homes, fish pens and cropland are submerged in salty water.
Locals lament that despite loss of property worth crores of taka every year during the monsoon and disaster seasons, no effective initiative has been taken to build a permanent and sustainable embankment.
Although temporary repairs have been attempted using geo-bags, they do not last during the monsoon season or cyclones.
Locals said that agricultural land and fish enclosures are being severely damaged due to salt water. Many families have lost their homes and are living in subhuman conditions. The memory of the terrible cyclone of 1991 still terrifies locals. They fear massive loss of lives in a possible major disaster due to the unprotected embankment.
Local resident SM Rana said that if the embankments in the area are not repaired quickly, the people here will be seriously affected during the current monsoon season.
Matarbari Union Parishad member Sarwar Kamal said that 1,000 families live along a one-kilometre stretch of the unprotected embankment in Shaitpara. The houses and crop fields of these families are often flooded by tidal water.
In addition, mud houses were destroyed. If repairs are not done quickly, tidal water will enter a wide area through the broken embankment.
Meanwhile, Abu Raihan, superintendent engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board Cox's Bazar, inspected the damaged portion of the embankment in the Nayapara-Sitepara section of the west of Matarbari union on Sunday (May 11) afternoon.
During the inspection, Abu Raihan said that in view of the upcoming monsoon season, the construction and repair work of the embankment will be started as soon as possible by using geo-bags, giving importance to public safety. He also commented that if the damaged parts are not repaired quickly, the town may be at great risk during the monsoon.
Md. Nurul Islam, executive engineer of Water Development Board-Paubor Cox's Bazar, said that the Matarbari embankment area has been inspected by the Water Development Board. After verification and approval, the repair work will be started soon.
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