River bank erosion of the mighty Jamuna began a few days ago with homesteads, mosques, graveyards being claimed by the rising water level of the river.
The river has devoured homesteads of around 300 families in Jagatpura, Kuthi Boyra, Gol Pecha, Chukai Nagar, Tarai, Balarampur, Baruha, Ramail, Gobindopur, Basidebpul and Arjuna villages of the upazila.
The important Bhuapur-Tarakandi road is at serious risk of being eroded away; so are numerous educational institutes, mosques, union complex, orphanage center.
“I have no pain about the fact that the Jamuna is devouring my homestead, but I cannot accept the river claiming the graves of my father and grandfather.
“If I am alive I will be able to make a new homestead in some other place. But how will I get back the graves of my ancestors?” poised Sahinul Islam, sitting beside the graves which are now two feet away from the eroding river banks in Arjuna village of Bhuapur in Tangail.
While visiting the area yesterday this correspondent found that families are busy shifting their belongings, taking apart theirtin-shed houses from the riverside to safer places. A large number of villagers living beside the river are spending sleepless nights in fear of sudden erosion.
Villager Tojammel Khan was taking apart his tin-shed house with the help of his wife and daughter as the river already came close to his house. He said: “The Jamuna devoured my 3 khadas (48 bigha) of land in the last 40 years. Now my houses will be taken by the river too.”
Abdus Sattar Khan, Principal of Haji Ismail Khan College in the village, said: “Many riverside villages have already disappeared from the upazila map due to river bank erosion. Many more villages will disappear soon if the government does not take effective measures to protect the banks of Jamuna river.”
Advocate Abdul Halim, Chairman of Bhuapur upazila parishad, said: “If the water development board does not take any prompt measure, fertiliser distribution across the country from the Jamuna fertiliser factory will be hampered as the Bhuapur-Tarakandi road may get damaged by the erosion.”
Shahjahan Siraj, Executive Engineer of Tangail Water Development Board, said: “We have visited the affected areas and informed the board’s management about the matter. If we get approval we will be able to start work on protecting the banks.”
