Erosion by the Madhumati River a distributary of the upper Padma River, has taken a serious turn during the last few days devouring lands and homesteads in the Chitalmari upazila in the Bagerhat district. The erosion has left several families landless and homeless.
Locals said thousands of acres of land, homesteads, several business establishments and shopsof the Shoiladah villagehave gone into its gorge over the last few days.
Local people have demanded the authorities of immediate action.
Roka Mian, a traderof the Shoiladah Boadghat area said, “We have already lost many business establishments and villages to the river and if the present situation continues, we will become paupers.”
A vast area including croplands, homesteads, educational institutions and a large portion of the Dhaka-Pirojpur Road has been devoured by the river recently, he added.
Students from several schools also urged the government to build an embankment to protect the area.
Shahadat Hossain, a sanitary businessman, said three dwelling houses, five business establishments, shops, trees and croplands vanished intothe river, within 20 minutes.
Locals fear that hundreds of houses, one bazaar and educational institutions will also disappear in the river at any given time if the authorities concerned do not take any initiatives to protect them.
Shikder Matiar Rahman, chairman of the Kalatala union, said thousands of houses in the Shoiladah, Charkulia, Machandapur, Bakpur and Paranpur villages, 50 bighas of land, thousands of trees disappeared into the river over the last few years.
He demanded that a sustainable embankment be constructed there without any delay.
Alamin Sheikh, a trader of Shoiladah Bazar, said he lost his shop to the river a few days ago.
Abdus Sobahan, a village doctor, said a section of his house and his chamber were eroded by the river on Tuesday last.
SM Refat Jamil, executive engineer of the Water Development Board, Bagerhat, said a vast track of land in Shoiladah village along the river stands threatened by erosion.
He said the higher authorities concerned have been informed through a fax message when 90 metres of Dhaka-Pirojpur road was eroded by the river.
WDB executive engineer Jamil said that a project to build an embankment has been taken up to check the erosion.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abu Sayeed said he discussed the matter with local UP chairman.
Proper measures will be taken after discussing the matter with the officials of the Water Development Board, he added.