River erosion has long been a silent natural disaster in Bangladesh and every year thousands of people here are affected by riverbank erosion. Over the last few days, people living near Padma are leading a life and death situation there as the river changed its course and has been gobbling up village after village, making many well-off people penniless overnight. Reportedly, a total of 4,656 families of four upazilas of Rajshahi district have been affected by flood caused by rush of water in the river Padma Considering the situation, the Government and NGOs should take some immediate steps to reduce the volume of the effects of riverbank erosion. In this regard, the authorities concerned should immediately construct an embankment along the river to protect the affected from the erosion.
Most of the people who became homeless during the last week are staying under the open sky, amid starvation and helplessness. Some have taken temporary refuge at homes of relatives; some have migrated to Dhaka. The administration has already distributed tin and dry food among the homeless. The reliefs would be distributed among the sufferers soon after we get them. Meanwhile, locals alleged that the amount of government relief is very inadequate against the actual need.
Experts assert that river erosion turned into the serious condition due to lack of proper dredging or digging. Dwellers of the area appealed to the government to take steps as the Padma erosion was heading towards densely populated area.
Immediate steps should be taken to
rehabilitate the affected people and
provide them with financial support
Though, the government is taking steps to prevent river erosion the people of river bank are suffering due to lack of timely action. It is feared that the erosion and loss would increase if the authority don’t take effective steps in this regard. The rivers of the country require capital dredging. But, there is no sign of such steps. Therefore, immediate actions should be taken to this end. Also immediate steps should be taken to rehabilitate the affected people and provide them with financial support.