Padma erosion devours 2,000-bigha land in Bagha Upazila

Our Correspondent | Published: September 03, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RAJSHAHI, Sept 2: At least 2,000 bigha land of Bagha upazila has been devoured by the erosion of turbulent river Padma over last one week.
While paying a visit to Pakuria union, people of the adjacent villages informed this correspondent that more than 2,000 bighas of land of at least 15 villages including Harirampur, Baroshata, Diar, Atarpara of Monigram union, Alaipur, Kishorepur, Gokulpur, Dewanpara, Maliandaha, Jotekadirpur, Tiktikipara and Rishipara of Pakuria union have been devoured by the river Padma.
The increased water level of the river and strong current was the cause of washing away lands, trees, crops and homesteads of the villages rendering several thousand people homeless. People of the villages are apprehending that within next two weeks, entire areas of those villages will be devoured by the river. Moreover, residents of 15 more char villages under Pakuria, Monigram and Gorgori unions are also facing the threat of river erosion.
Hasan Ali, Assistant Head Master of Harirampur High School informed, the school building is under threat of erosion. Adjacent crop fields and trees of the school have been washed away by the river. He said, the school governing body President and members were now planning to shift the school to other places.
He further informed the river has devastated three bighas of land of Morshed Ali, one and a half bigha land of Lalu, three bigha of Shaokat, two bigha of Sekander, sugarcane of six bighas of land of Golam Mostafa and nearly 200 bighas of land including mango orchards of some 150 people of Harirampur village during last one week.
The erosion of the river has spread over nearly 12 kilometre of areas during last couples of years in at least 15 villages of Monigram, Gorgori and Pakuria unions. Even, people of the unions are worried about the existence of those three unions during the next years. Hundreds of displaced people with their family members and household materials were running for safe shelter daily as the embankment of the river Padma was eroding daily.
People of erosion affected villages of Plassey, Fatepur, Chalkrajapur, Khayerhat, Murshidpur, Narayanpur, Mistripara, Jotashi and Lalitnagar of Gorgori union, Pakuriaram, Panikamra, Alaipur and Gangarampur of Pakuria union were spending their days and nights with panic.
Many of the people of those villages have also turned homeless and pauper by losing their last shelter of living to the river Padma. They have become completely helpless and their only thought is now where to take shelter with their family members.
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