Over 15 houses and other establishments went into the gorge of the Jamuna River in the last 10 days until Monday as untimely river erosion has taken a serious turn in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra.
Besides, around 32,000 people are passing days in fear of losing their homesteads. People living on the banks of the river are under the threat of erosion.
Various agricultural lands, including maize, have been lost in the Jamuna River. Ten mosques, three government primary schools, one secondary school, one madrassa, one community clinic and one union health centre of the upazila are under threat.
Locals have requested the government's concerned departments to take necessary measures to prevent erosion.
Water Development Board Executive Engineer Nazmul Haque said: "We received the news of river erosion in Char Ghagua of Kajla Union. Erosion prevention work will be started soon."
The locals said Jamuna river erosion has started as the water level increased in various areas along the banks.
Ibrahim Pramanik, a fisherman of Char Ghagua village, who's house is under the threat of erosion and has been affected by erosion seven times in the last 20 years said: "There is a possibility of my house being washed away by river erosion. I am worried about my wife and three-year-old daughter. We stay awake at night to avoid possible danger. Soon I will move to another house."
Maha Alam, a victim of river erosion four times in the last 10 years, said: "My house was washed away in the river 10 days ago. I moved half a kilometre away with four sons and three daughters. 15 families like Lalu Sheikh, Jalil Mia, Taher Hossain, Shaheen Alam, Shahar Sheikh, Ujjal Mia have been victims of river erosion."
Shahjahan Molla said: "If the river erosion is not stopped now, there is a possibility that Char Ghagua village of Kajla Union will be lost in the Jamuna river."
He sought urgent intervention of the concerned department of the government to prevent the erosion immediately on behalf of the villagers.
