Joy of Eid elusive for several hundred river erosion victims

RANGPUR, June 11: Several hundred people at Shankardaho village in Lakkhitari union of Gangachara upazila under Rangpur district could not celebrate Eid-ul-Azha this year as river erosion caused massive damage to their crops, houses and other assets during past few months, making them paupers.
It is learnt, a good number of river erosion-hit families in the upazila were compelled to pass the Eid day like a normal day as they could not be able to even buy necessary quality food or new dresses on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha let alone sacrificial animals.
The mighty river Teesta devoured their homesteads and croplands leaving them in distress. There was no feeling of enjoyment and rapture for them during the Eid festival. The erosion-affected families became destitute and were facing untold sufferings.
Visiting village Shankardaho a few days ago, the FE correspondent found a melancholic atmosphere prevailing in the neighbourhood.
Expressing discontent, Nur Islam (55), a resident of the village, told The Financial Express that as his one bigha of maize field and house were engulfed by the river Teesta last month, he could not purchase anything for his three children on the occasion of Eid.
He could not even buy necessary quality food and other things for the festival as he is now entirely destitute.
Moreover, many erosion victims like him could not purchase sacrificial animals due to lack of financial ability. They even did not have the ability to buy one kg meat for the Eid day, he added.
Dulal Mia, another resident of Shankardaho, told The Financial Express, that last year, many of them had the financial capacity to purchase sacrificial animals. But this year, the scenario is totally different as Teesta river erosion has come as a severe blow to them, destroying their crop fields and houses. It has become quite difficult for them to find the way for their survival let alone enjoy the Eid, he further said.
Some locals told the FE that several years ago, about 600 families lived in the village Shankardaho. But at present, the number has come down to only around 100. These families are passing their days in uncertainty. They are also struggling a lot for their survival owing to abject poverty.
They said this year, due to Teesta river erosion, many people lost their crop lands and houses.
Around two hundred bighas of crop land have been devoured by the river this year. The ongoing river erosion has snatched their Eid delight.
A few locals said they collected some meat of sacrificial animals from solvent families in other parts of the upazila. Thus they tried to meet the demand of their children for Eid-ul-Azha.
Local Union Parishad member Ramjan Ali said presently, village Shankardaho is on the verge of extinction due to nonstop Teesta river erosion.
Owing to the calamity, the people of this village are suffering much. Necessary steps should be taken to prevent river erosion in the area in order to save the village's existence, he added.