Three villages in the Bheramara upazila of Kushtia have fallen victim to the erosion of the Padma River.
The erosion of the Padma River has intensified at the Baro Mile, Moslempur, and Munsipara areas of the Bahirchar union. Due to severe erosion, the Kushtia-Pabna highway is under threat, and people living along the Padma River spend their days in fear.
According to local sources, the people of Padma are living in fear. Due to erosion, agricultural lands, houses, brickfields, roads, and embankments are disappearing into the river. The river's water level was below the danger level under the Hardinge Bridge in Bheramara until Friday.
Due to unplanned sand mining, erosion in Bheramara is intensifying. The strong current of the Padma is breaking new areas daily. The Kushtia-Pabna highway and Raita embankment in Bheramara upazila are now under threat. The houses of about 4,000 families are at risk just 200m away from the erosion of the Raita embankment.
Raita Pathar Ghat is beside the Raita embankment of Bahadurpur Union. One of the most beautiful sights is Raita Pathar Ghat. There is a picnic spot here. More than 200 acres of cropland at Baro Mile, Moslempur and Munshipara of Bahirchar union have disappeared into the riverbed.
According to the hydrology department, a water measurement company at Hardinge Bridge Point, the latest Hardinge Bridge water level has been measured at 11.99cm. The danger level of water at this point is 14.25cm.
Local Hasan Ali said that although there is no legal sand palace in the Padma, influential people have unplanned extracted sand from the river. As a result, the course of the water has changed, and river erosion has occurred. Several educational institutions, brickfields, mosques, markets, and roads in these areas are at risk of erosion.
Local Bahadurpur Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Sohel Rana said: "Every year, as the water level in the Padma rises, the Raita embankment is flooded. The people of this area are severely affected. So it was this time. If immediate steps are not taken, about half of the villages of the upazila, including the Bahadurpur union, will be submerged due to the breaking of the embankment. The river's water level has risen, but it has not yet entered the locality. Water has entered some low-lying areas, and the paddy and vegetables of the char arable land have been submerged. New water has come into the Padma river, but no damage has been done yet."
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Executive Engineer Rashidur Rahman of Kushtia said: "Sandbags have been dumped for the last few days to prevent erosion of the embankment in Moslempur area of Bheramara upazila. "
Kushtia's acting deputy commissioner, Sharmin Sultana, said: "Preliminary preparations have been completed to tackle river erosion or deterioration of flood situation due to Farakka. Our communication with the Water Development Board is continuing. "
