The devastating erosion of the Padma River has once again taken a serious turn in Naria upazila of Shariatpur district.
According to sources, more than: 2,000 houses, 500 business centres, several schools, mosques and other establishments have been washed away by the consequences of aggressive river erosion. The river is threatening increasingly more areas.
On Sunday morning, a big portion of Naria Upazila Health Complex and a mosque adjacent to the hospital also washed away.
At least 12 hospital buildings are at risk of being washed away at any time, said locals.
In the last month, the river has devoured several multi-storey buildings, a mosque, 2,000 business centres, 300 shops, and others establishments located on the riverbank.
A1.50km area, from Naria Banshtola to Purba Naria, was washed away by the river in the last couple of days— but the authorities concerned paid no head on it, locals said.
Although the erosion is ongoing for the last couple of years, no initiative to build a dam or embankment was taken by the local administration, claimed the locals.
They also claimed the government should declare the area a disaster zone.
Shahidul Islam Babu, mayor of Naria Municipality , said they started to send relief materials to the victims.
UNO Sanjida Yeasmin said she told the higher authorities to declare the area a disaster zone.
On a recent visit, she also assured the locals that the construction work on the 9km dam will start on the first week of October.
