RAJSHAHI, May 7: Though the monsoon is knocking at the door, no permanent measure has been taken yet to check erosion of the river Padma in Rajshahi. As a result, many important establishments including Rajshahi Court, Deputy Commissioner Office, Rajshahi Cadet College and Sarda Police Academy were on the face of theat of erosion.
Water Development Board sources in Rajshahi informed, projects submitted for checking erosion remained entangled at the concerned ministry due to bureaucreatic red-tapism. WDB sources further mentioned, during the last monsoon, three-kilometre areas from Bulanpur to Nabaganga was eroded by the river devouring more than 100-metre area with 500 families.
Concerned sources informed, if no measure to check erosion of the river Padma is taken immediately, various establishments and lands of Rajshahi city and upazilas of Paba, Godagari, Charghat and Bagha might be eroded.
Hanufa Bewa of erosion affected Bulanpur area of the city informed, due to last year's erosion, the river came close to her house. If the erosion continues this year, her house will sure be devoured by the river.
Maifur Rahman of the same area informed, crematory of the area has been devoured by the river last year. Moreover, at least 500 families living beside the river were badly affeced by the erosion.
"We repeatedly appealed to the local MP and officials of WDB but no one came forward to check erosion. Only during the monsoon when river is at spate with turbulent current, some sacks filled with sacs are poured into the water, just like throwing away money in water and nothing else."
Rajshahi Raskha Sangram Parishad, a popular local organisation, has organised several human chain, gherao programme, placing of memorandum to the concerned WDB and ministry to take immediate step to save Rajshahi from the grip of erosion.
Jamat Khan, General Secretary of RRSP expressed his disappointment at non allocation of fund to check erosion of the river Padma, though, he said, fund was allocated for implementation of identical projects in other regions of the country. He termed such anomalies as a regional disparity against the people of Rajshahi.
Member of Parliament of Rajshahi Sadar constituency Fazley Hossain Badsha mentioned, the demand for permanent construction of embankment along the river Padma to save Rajshahi city and other upazilas of the district was placed in the Parliament several times but no project is being sanctioned for Rajshahi.
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No move yet to check Padma erosion in Rajshahi
Our Correspondent | Published: May 08, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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