Jamuna erosion devours homes and croplands

As water levels in the Jamuna River fall in the Khaskawlia union of Chowhali upazila in Sirajganj, severe erosion has hit the flood protection embankment area, two educational institutions and a spur built to safeguard the upazila. Until 11:30 am last Monday, repeated waves of erosion had swept away nearly 30 meters of the spur area into the river.

Earlier, on August 20, a 100 meter stretch at the front of this embankment had already collapsed into the river. This time, the erosion is moving toward the populated flood protection zone. Fearing that their homes will be swallowed by the river, families living along the Jamuna are dismantling their houses and moving to safer locations.

Many are being forced to leave behind homesteads, memories and dreams built up over generations, stepping into an uncertain future. Mr. Abdur Rahman Molla of Jotpara village said with regret that the river used to be far away. He had built his house with loans taken from a bank and relatives, but the erosion of the past few days has wiped out everything.

He now spends his days fearing the loss of his own homestead. Local residents warn that without urgent and lasting measures, several villages in Chowhali risk becoming completely uninhabited.

To control the erosion, locals have demanded that the Water Development Board, known as PAUBO, continue emergency dumping of sand filled geo bags and geo tubes. However, strong currents have caused geo bags to collapse in several spots, raising local concerns about how effective this measure really is.

PAUBO contractor Mr. Md. Rafiqul Islam said the dumping work had continued under directions from Mr. Amirul Islam Khan Alim, member of parliament for Sirajganj 5. He said the work is currently facing temporary disruption due to a shortage of geo bags, but will resume at full pace as soon as new supplies are allocated.

According to sources at the Chowhali upazila administration, officials plan to inspect the erosion affected areas very soon and coordinate with PAUBO to take swift and effective action. On this matter, Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman, executive engineer of the Sirajganj Water Development Board, told Inqilab that geo bag dumping will resume as an emergency measure once funding is allocated, and that the situation is being monitored around the clock.