Padma Erosion Intensifies in Daulatpur, Udayanagar and Atarpara Face Risk of Disappearing

Residents along the Padma River are in distress due to severe river erosion in Chilmarie Union of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia. Over the past week, strong currents in the Padma have washed away hundreds of bighas of cropland, homes, roads and electricity poles in Udayanagar, Atarpara and Digrichar. Many families who have lost everything in the sudden erosion are now living under the open sky.

Locals allege that construction of an embankment in the Alaipur area of neighboring Bagha upazila in Rajshahi has altered the river’s natural course, directing the full pressure of the water toward the Daulatpur side. As a result, the erosion has become more severe since Monday. Cropland and homesteads are disappearing into the river almost instantly. Last year, the Udayanagar BGB camp in the area was also washed away by the Padma. As communication in the remote char areas along the border was already poor, the suffering of people affected by the erosion has reached an extreme level.

Earlier in July, severe erosion in Majdiar and Koldiar areas of Daulatpur’s Maricha Union washed away around 500 bighas of cropland. At the time, the Water Development Board temporarily brought the situation under control by dumping geo-bags. However, no effective measures have yet been seen to prevent erosion in the remote char areas of Chilmarie this time. This has caused widespread panic among riverside residents.

Chilmarie Union Parishad Chairman Engineer Abdul Mannan said the authorities concerned have been informed about homes and cropland being washed away by the strong currents caused by the recent rise in the Padma’s water level.

Daulatpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Anindya Guha said it is somewhat difficult to carry out heavy emergency work in the area because it is a remote char region. However, dry food, safe drinking water and medical services have been provided to people affected by the erosion. At the same time, initiatives are being taken to control the erosion quickly by dumping geo-bags in coordination with the Water Development Board.

Meanwhile, Kushtia Water Development Board Executive Engineer Mr. Asauddoula said that as he recently joined the post, he would learn the details of the situation and take the necessary measures quickly.

If the devastation caused by the river erosion is not brought under control soon, local affected residents fear that Udayanagar and Atarpara could disappear from the map permanently.