On Sunday, an estimated area of 700 feet was eroded away, including Mosharraf-Rasheda Academy grounds, along with a mosque on the river bank in just a few hours.
The situation is taking longer to fix because locals allege that two government departments are passing the responsibility onto each other with neither taking the initiative to fix it.
The lack of coordination between Roads and Highways (R&H) Department and Water Development Board (WDB) is the reason for the delay in erosion prevention.
In the last few days a large portion of the guide wall and bridge protection embankment has been eroded away by the river endangering the entire bride.
Executive Engineer of R&H Barisal, Shah Muhammad Shams Mokaddas said: “ We do not have the ability to prevent or check for river erosions, we can only repair the damaged roads and highways it is WDB's responsibility to prevent erosions.”
Cheif Engineer of WDB Barisal, Ramzan Ali Sardar opined: “It is the R&H department's job to protect roads and bridges from being damaged and yet we have not received a plan or request from them in regards to the matter.”
However after getting Tk2 core as emergency funds a tender has been called for repairing the damaged roads and a plan has been sent to WDB office requesting a master plan to prevent river erosion near the highways and bridges.
After a shoal (sedimented ridge) emerged in Rakudia on the western bank, the river's erosion direction moved eastwards towards the Dhaka-Barisal highway.
The vehicles plying the bridge does so with a great risk as the bridge is greatly damaged by the impact of the river and is said to be unstable.
The river looks to devour the Doaraika Setu, Rashida Mosharraf Academy, a mosque, 30 residential and eight commercial buildings and around 100 acres of cropland in Mohishadi village if emergency measures are not taken.
The authorities concerned have yet to take preventative measures even though the area has suffered losses of crores of taka from erosions.
It has been the locals who have taken the initiative by raising funds and making sand and brick embankments to prevent further erosions.
Advocate Sheikh Md Tipu Sultan also a local WP lawmaker points out: “A sustainable masterplan is needed to prevent erosions. Just dumping sand bags into the river is not a sustaible solution to the problem it gives rise to corrupt officials taking advantage of the situation.”
A master plan has been submitted to the Water Resources Ministry for preventing further erosions by Sugandha River according to WDB regional chief engineer.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
