The Padma River in Kushtia has grown increasingly destructive, with its relentless erosion devouring homes, farmland, and infrastructure in the district’s Mirpur upazila. Despite numerous attempts to combat the erosion, the situation has only worsened, particularly in the unions of Talbaria and Bahlbaria, as well as the villages of Sahebnagar and Mirjanagar in Baruipara Union.
The decrease in water levels has paradoxically intensified the erosion, posing an imminent threat to the region's key infrastructure. Already, two national power grid towers have been swallowed by the river, and the vital Kushtia-Ishwardi national highway is now perilously close to being eroded. Homes, educational institutions, and countless livelihoods are at risk as the river closes in.
Residents along the river live in constant fear, with many dismantling their homes to relocate to safer areas. Those who have already lost their properties are left in dire circumstances, unsure of their future.
Erosion efforts fall short
According to the Kushtia Water Development Board (WDB), around 55,000 geo-bags and 3,200 tubes have been deployed in an attempt to stem the erosion.
However, the depth and force of the river’s current have caused these geo-bags to sink, rendering the efforts ineffective.
With the river’s course shifting closer to the highway, projections suggest that an additional 30 to 35 meters of land could be eroded in the coming weeks, potentially reducing the distance between the river and the highway to just 35 meters.
On-site visits to Sahebnagar and Mirjanagar reveal a bleak picture. The Padma's powerful current continues to erode land adjacent to a broken embankment.
Desperate locals are seen cutting down trees and dismantling their homes in an attempt to salvage whatever they can before the river claims more ground.
Voices of despair
Abdul Halim, a resident of Mirjanagar village, expressed his deep anguish over the erosion’s toll: "If our homes don’t survive, how will the graveyards? I’m a member of the Mirzapur graveyard committee. Both of my parents are buried here. Now, this last memory of them is being taken away by the river. We’re facing a real crisis."
Another local, Dudu Mia, suggested that the nearby Ishwardi Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant may be contributing to the problem. "The amount of land lost to the river could have funded the construction of several nuclear power plants. Now, the Mirjanagar graveyard is under threat,” he lamented.
Ashraful Islam, another resident, expressed his fears: "The way the river is eroding, if it advances another 10-15 feet, the entire graveyard will be washed away."
Standing by her dismantled homestead, Marzina Khatun gazed tearfully at the river. "We couldn’t save the home we built, bit by bit, from the Padma’s erosion. Now we have to take it apart ourselves. We’ve lived here for 23 years. We lost our farmland to the river long ago, and now we’re losing our last possession—our home. We don’t know where we will go or what we’ll do," she said.
Calls for immediate action
Local leaders are urging the government to take immediate action. Mehedi Hasan Opu, convener of the River Erosion Prevention Committee, said: "The erosion in Sahebnagar and Mirjanagar has been ongoing since 2016. We have been protesting alongside the locals to save these areas. We demand swift measures to stop further erosion and call on the government to support those who have lost everything to the river."
Ahsanul Haque Khan Chowdhury, principal of Mir Abdur Karim College, which is at risk of being washed away, echoed these concerns: "The erosion has accelerated to the point where the college could disappear into the river at any moment. The Kushtia-Pabna highway is also at risk. The government must act quickly to address this."
Worsening crisis
The WDB has reported that the Padma’s erosion is progressing rapidly, with a 1.5-kilometer stretch along Sahebnagar losing 728 meters of flood control embankment.
The river’s strong currents are exacerbating the situation as water levels continue to drop by 12 to 13 centimeters daily.
In recent weeks, multiple transmission towers of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) have been lost, and the river has claimed large portions of the Mirjanagar graveyard.
WDB officials have warned that if the current rate of erosion continues, another 30 to 35 meters of land could be lost, putting the highway and nearby villages at even greater risk.
Rashidur Rahman, executive engineer of Kushtia WDB, emphasized the severity of the situation: "The erosion is intensifying as water levels fall. We are working to combat it, but a permanent solution has not been found."
Govt response and future plans
Shahjahan Siraj, Additional Chief Engineer of the WDB’s Western Region, acknowledged the challenges in fighting the erosion.
"We are doing everything possible, placing geo-bags in the river. A Tk1,472 crore project has been undertaken to build a permanent embankment, and a contractor has been appointed. However, strong currents have delayed the start of construction. We will implement effective measures to stop the erosion very soon," he assured.
As the Padma River continues its unrelenting advance, the people of Kushtia face an uncertain future, with homes, farmlands, and infrastructure at risk of being lost forever.