Erosion takes serious turn in Companiganj

Two school buildings, one cyclone centre and half a dozen houses were devoured by tidal water in the Diara Guchho Gram area of Companiganj upazila in Noakhali.    So far, about a two-kilometre area of the village on the bank of the river Bamoni went under water in the last two days.    The strong current at Bamoni, which is joined by the river Chhoto Feni on one side and the Bay of Bengal on the other, now threatens to overflow several points of the region’s flood control embankment.    Areas that are in danger of being flooded, if the level of water rises further, are Char Bhalua, eastside of Char Langta and Char Alahi.   The intensity of the erosion has been attributed to the sudden rise in the water level due to high tide and the onrush of water from the upstream.    Sources said, there were two schools in the Diara Guchho Gram of Char Fakira union – a primary school and a junior high school – and both had disappeared in river water on Wednesday.     These were the only schools within 10 kilometres of the area with about 700 students, said local union-chairman Mizanur Rahman Badal.  When contacted, Companiganj UNO Mohammad Nuruzzaman said, “We are doing everything we can.