The flood situation in southern districts of the country has improved as water levels in most of its rivers saw a receding trend in the last few days.
With the flood water receding, erosion has become a destructive force in several districts including Madaripur and Shariatpur increasing the sufferings of people already devastated by the floods.
According to sources, people of Bandarkhola union parishad (up) in Shibchar upazila and officials of the UP complex are facing uncertainty as the building is under threat of being washed away due to the increasing erosion by the Padma River. The complex was built in 2010.
Several other establishments surrounding the complex including a community clinic and the Kazipur bazar are also under the threat of erosion.
The river erosion in the union has got worse over the past few days, taking several villages under the river during the period.
Nizamuddin Bepari, chairman of the union council, said the UP complex, Kazipur bazar and several other establishments in the area may go into the river bed any time as the erosion has taken a serious turn.
Madaripur WDB Executive Engineer Partha Pratim Saha said: "It is almost impossible to protect the establishments from the erosion as the complex is in an erosion-prone area and the river has already taken a serious turn. Nothing could be done.”
Sandbags were dumped during the flood to reduce the rate of erosion, he added.
Recently, the river erosion fueled by flood in the district has worsened in the upazila that two schools where hundreds of students from poor backgrounds would pursue their education were collapsed a few days ago.
On August 18, the building of Kazirsura Government Primary School No 26 in Bandarkhola union under Shibchar upazila was swept away by Padma River. More than 200 students used to study in the school.
While the entire three-storey SESDP Model High School building sank into the Padma River as riverbanks gave way in Nuruddin Madborkandi village in Shibchar upazila on July 23.
Around 300 students from 24 villages studied at the school founded in 2009. The students were mostly from small villages in remote Char areas and it was the only school for them close to home and the building had adequate facilities.
The people of Shibchar upazila have urged the government to take permanent steps for saving lives and establishments in the area.
