River erosion takes severe turn in Bogura

At least 150 homesteads and vast tract of croplands have been devoured as the river erosion has taken serious turn at different places of four upazilas including Shariakandi, Sherpur, Dhunot and Sonatola in Bogura district in the last two weeks.

The situation has been created as the water level at different points of the Jamuna river and its tributaries including Bengali and Korotoa has started falling down.

Authorities of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Bogura apprehended that the situation may worsen if the trend of water recession continues.

Md. Nazmul Haque, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board in Bogura, told The Financial Express that the water of the Jamuna river near Shariakandi point is flowing 235 cm below the danger level, while the water of the Bengali river is flowing 24 cm above the danger mark after receding 12 cm in the last 24 hours.

"Some parts of northern region may be affected by floods due to rains and onrush of water from upstream especially gushing water throughout the Teesta. But there is no possibility to affect Bogura district seriously by the floods," he added.

He admitted that at least 150 meters of a flood control embankment along the Bengali river in the Chak Kolyany area in Sherpur upazila of the district was washed out recently due to strong current of the river. About 100 dwelling houses, croplands and semi-pucca roads in the area have been devoured by the river in the last two weeks making many people homeless. Several parts of at least 50 villages including Chakdholi, Joyla-Juan, Joyla-Aladi, Joynagor and Guagachhi in the same upazila are now under threat of erosion.

According to sources, a non-government organization (NGO) built 10 kilometers flood control embankment on the eastern side of the Bengali river from Bothuabari to Shahebbarighat in Sherpur upazila of the district in 1987 with a view to protecting the neighbouring areas and croplands from the onslaught of floods. But, after the collapse of the flood control embankment, hundreds of homesteads, vast tract of croplands and other installations are now facing threat of erosion.

BWDB sources said similar erosion has been noticed in different areas of Dhunot, Sonatola and Shariakandi upazila due to fall of water level in the Jamuna and Bengali rivers. At least 50 houses have gone into the riverbed in the upazilas in the last few days. Many farmers, who have lost their homes and arable lands, are passing days and nights in uncertainty.

During a spot visit to different areas including Shariakandi and Sonatola upazila, this correspondent found that many erosion affected people were leading miserable life after taking shelter on different embankments and Khas lands. They complained that they have not received any assistance by the government or any other organization yet.

Madina Bewa, 50, a widow of Shariakandi, said, "I have become victim of river erosion for at least five times. Now, I am a destitute and have been leading miserable life for want of help."

Mr Nazmul Haque said, "We are dumping sand-sacks with Geo textile in the erosion affected areas in a bid to resist further breaches. Permanent protection measures will be taken in the dry season to protect the locality and residents' assets."

Motlubur Rahman, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department (AED) in Bogura, said, "People of the river basin areas have been facing two types of problems for long. They face river erosion and flash floods. As a result, they become destitute losing both the homesteads and crops frequently."

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