Chandpur, Barguna town protection dams under erosion threat

Fear has gripped the residents of the Meghna river-side area in Chandpur town and Betagi municipality of Barguna, as the main town protection embankments are under erosion threat.

Our Chandpur Correspondent reports: Chandpur town protection dam is under threat of fresh erosion by the mighty river Meghna this year. As a result, river-side people and traders at Puranbazar and Natunbazar have been passing their days in panic.

In many places of the dam at Puranbazar and Natunbazar, the concrete cement blocks and sand-filled geo textile bags are being displaced.

Water Board Chandpur's Executive Engineer Refat Jamil said, "A total of 3.6km of the town protection dam is vulnerable and under threat of erosion by the Meghna. The most vulnerable areas are Natunbazar and Puranbazar, Jamuna Road area, Tilabari area,(adjacent to Chandpur launch terminal), Pilot House, Old Fire Station area, Horisava area, Paschim Sreeramdi area, Ronagowal area, Dole Mandir and its adjacent areas''.

In 2022 and 2021 many dwelling houses and establishments were devoured in erosion.

People of Chandpur demanded a permanent dam to save the town from erosion.

UNB from Barguna says, the road constructed on the town protection embankment on the west side of the Launch Ghat of Betagi municipality of Barguna has developed big cracks at several places, causing concern over the safety of the adjacent areas.

It has left thousands of traders and residents living in fear, especially amid the threat of Cyclone Mocha over the Bay.

The Indian Meteorological Department has recently issued a warning about the possible formation of a cyclonic storm called 'Mocha' in the southeast Bay of Bengal, which has caused uncertainty about the longevity of the protection dam. Local said the slow progress of the erosion control project has aggravated the situation.

Previously, erosion by the Bishkhali river destroyed launch ghats, port, small factories, jute shops, houses, businesses, and public and private institutions, paddy fields, mosques, and madrasas. And now, the dam, upazila parishad complex, passenger camp at launch ghat, hundred years old traditional Kali temple, mosques, and the rest of the municipality are in danger.

In 2017, a project was approved to protect the municipality and then secretary to the local government division Abdul Malek laid the foundation stone of the project. The project was halted and the foundation stone is the only visible work of the project.

Last year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a project worth Tk 4.04 billion (404 crore) to protect the municipality and other important areas from the erosion by the Bishkhali river.

But Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has not yet started the project work. The delay in the project has caused anger and frustration among the local residents.

The tender process for the protection project is ongoing, according to the WDB Barguna office.

Abdur Rob, a labourer who lives on the banks of the river, expressed his fear for the upcoming monsoon season, saying "I don't know what the future holds for us. The way Bishkhali is eroding right now, I can't imagine what will happen after the monsoon and cyclone Mocha".

Md. Sohail Howladar, the owner of Jhalkathi Engineering Workshop, said that erosion has been increasing in the area adjacent to his shop for the past few months, with the crack in the paved road dangerously close to his establishment.

He said that it is only a matter of time before his shop disappears into the river.

Abdul Halim, owner of a sawmill in Kath Bazar, expressed his frustration at the lack of progress by authorities, saying that "Locals have to travel through many alternative routes. I have been hearing for a long time the work will start. But I don't see any progress."

maayerbadhon@gmail.com