Residents of Kushiyara-Kalni river banks in Ajmiriganj upazila of Habiganj district have been passing sleepless nights amid fear of losing homesteads as erosion by the river has taken a serious turn. Many have been compelled to leave their ancestral houses. Besides, many schools, markets, streets,mosques, madrashahs, croplands and houses are at risk of being washed away by the river.
This year, pre-monsoon showers have caused widespread damage. Since last week, several houses and structures -- in many areas of the upazila have been devoured by rivers, rendering many people homeless. According to locals, day by day the Kushiyara-Kalni river is widening as erosion takes a serious turn. Several crackers were developed in the river bank areas, but authorities concerned remain silent to protect these areas from the erosion.
It was alleged that earlier local administration used dredgers although the locals strongly opposed it as they think it is one of the main reasons for river erosion. People living on the banks are in great panic and anxiety as the river might devour their homesteads and aarbale land at anytime.
Many schools, markets, streets,
mosques, madrashahs, croplands
and houses are at risk
of being washed away by the river
Apart from the banks of the Kushiyara-Kalni, riverside people across the country also fear river erosion can eat up everything and leave them destitute. The most erosion-vulnerable districts are Bogura, Tangail, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Pabna, Bogura, Kushtia, Rajshahi. Croplands, embankments and dams, many points of highways, village roads and, habitats, large number of shops, houses, religious institutions, educational institutions, haat, bazar and important establishments including hospitals have already gone into the rivers in the last five decades.
Therefore, we fear thousands of families of the vulnerable districts will be rendered homeless in the coming days as no permanent solution has been made to this end yet. Bangladesh Water Development Board and experts had discussed the matter with the ministers concerned and top government officials and received commitments from them. But no sustainable project has been implemented in the river banks area of the country yet.
Natural disaster like floods and cyclones cause loss to people but they do not take away their land while erosion takes away everything. The government must take planned and effective measures to prevent such pervasive and fury of rivers.
Besides, it should arrange housing for those losing their homes in flood and riverbank erosion alongside rehabilitating the landless and homeless people across the country immediately. The government will also have to take immediate measures for riverbank protection, building of new embankments and urgent repair work for damaged dykes.
