Flooding feared as hyacinths clog two rivers in Jashore

The Harihar and Buribhadra rivers in Keshabpur upazila of Jashore have become completely clogged with water hyacinths, with no visible action taken to remove them in the past two years. As a result, local residents fear widespread flooding in the current monsoon.

According to sources, last year members of the civil society submitted a six-point memorandum to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), demanding immediate removal of water hyacinths and restoration of the rivers' natural flow. Nevertheless, no visible initiatives have since been taken by the authorities.

Residents of the upazila have once again raised several demands, including clearing longstanding water hyacinths, restoring normal water flow through proper excavation of the rivers' sources, taking action against illegal river encroachmen, removing silt from the riverbeds, draining the 27 local beels (wetlands), and stopping illegal extraction of groundwater by local fish farm owners.

The Harihar and Buribhadra rivers flow through Keshabpur municipality and play a crucial role in draining water from over fifty villages and wetlands across Keshabpur and Monirampur upazilas. Due to prolonged neglect, these rivers have lost navigability and are now obstructed by dense growth of water hyacinth, impeding natural water flow.

Asraful Islam, a resident of the upazila, said negligence on the part of the Water Development Board in launching dredging projects has further worsened the situation.

During the last monsoon, poor drainage caused by clogged river channels resulted in severe water logging, submerging many low-lying areas in the municipality area and nearby villages.

The memorandum submitted to the UNO called for swift intervention, but the lack of follow-through has now intensified concern of another flood disaster this year.

Furthermore, unless the 35-kilometre stretch of the Buribhadra River from Keshabpur to Mongolkot is dredged, many villages along the river basin may face the risk of inundation.

In addition, the 600-meter-long Khojakhali canal, which connects the Shreeganj Bridge area of Keshabpur municipality to the Harihar River, remains unexcavated. This canal serves as a vital drainage outlet for around 26 villages in both Keshabpur and Monirampur, where water from the Bolodhali Beel normally flows through it to the Harihar River. Without its proper excavation, water discharge remains severely hampered.

Suman Shikder, sub-divisional engineer of the Keshabpur Water Development Board, said that a proposal has been submitted to dredge 25 km of the Harihar River in the second phase, 35 km under the first revised plan, 18.5 km of the Upper Bhadra, and 21 km of the Hari-Teligati River.

He added that a plan has been formulated to excavate 10 rivers and canals in the upazila, which includes the Khojakhali canal and the construction of 30 new bridges and culverts.

Provisions for removing water hyacinths from the Harihar and Buribhadra rivers are included in the proposal. Once funding is secured, the Water Development Board aims to begin implementation of the plan promptly.