River erosion in Sylhet and Satkhira has taken a serious turn, pushing homes, roads and a vast tract of cropland to the verge of destruction.
Thousands of houses and a vast tract of cropland of Baurbhag, Katakhal, Mallifaud Kandi, Lamanigram villages are under threat of being devoured by Nayagang and Borogang rivers in the Jaintiapur upazila.
Besides, a large part of Baurbhag-Katakhal, and Mallifaud roads have already gone into the river after the Local Government Engineering Department started renovating the roads a few days ago.
Locals alleged that an unplanned embankment constructed at Hidar Khal (Canal) in Gowainghat’s Alirgaon union is obstructing the natural flow of Nayagang River, putting the homesteads of thousands of locals’ at risk.
They demanded that the embankment constructed at Hidar Khal (Canal) be removed soon to save homes, cropland, and roads.
A group of locals- Abdul Kaiyum, Nurul Islam and Fazlur Rahman, said that river erosion can be stopped if the Hidar Khal embankment was removed and a bridge was built there instead.
Jaintapur upazila Awami League General Secretary M Liakat Ali said: “The local administration and the authorities of the Water Development Board have to come forward to save the people of the region from river erosion.”
Nurul Haque, a resident of Katakhal village, said: “If the river erosion continues, one day I have to leave my own house.”
Upazila Engineer Romendra Hom Chowhury, said: “If the Hidar Khal (Canal) embankment is removed and a bridge is built there, roads and homes can be saved.”
Regarding the matter, Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, executive engineer of Water Development Board, said: “I do not know anything about the erosion by Borogang River. But I will try to learn about the matter.”
Meanwhile, erosion by Kholpetua River in Satkhira’s Symnagar upazila has taken a serious turn, devouring the Trawler Ghat under Gabura Union in the upazila. Locals said erosion was intensifying day by day which may devour houses, roads and other establishments soon.
Gabura Union Parishad Chairman GM Masudul Haque Alom, said: “If the erosion is not stopped, the project built to supply safe drinking water at Gabura will go into the river soon.”
Regarding the matter, Rashidur Rahman, sub-divisional engineer of Water Development Board, said: “We are taking necessary steps to tackle river erosion.”