Following several days of continuous rain, severe waterlogging has gripped the Beribadh area of Rupganj upazila. With government canals encroached upon and no proper drainage in place, the situation has worsened significantly. Thousands of residents in Kanchan Municipality, as well as Bhulta and Golakandail unions, have been left stranded. Stagnant water has disrupted access to schools and madrasas, while many locals are now suffering from waterborne diseases.
In response to widespread media coverage of the public’s suffering, officials from the Upazila Administration and the Department of Environment visited several affected villages on Thursday.
During the joint inspection, authorities found evidence of canal encroachment, illegal sand filling, unauthorised construction of sand depots, and factories on government land. Several canals were immediately cleared of encroachments. Present at the visit were Masud Iqbal Mohammad Shamim, Director of the Environmental Clearance Department in Dhaka; AHM Rashed, Deputy Director of the Narayanganj Department of Environment; and Tasbir Hossain Suza, Assistant Commissioner of the Purbachal Revenue Circle, along with other officials.
AC (Land) Tasbir Hossain stated that the blocked canals in the affected villages used to drain rainwater effectively. Encroachments have led to the current crisis. Immediate orders were issued to remove illegal structures and re-excavate the canals.
Eastwood Housing Project’s MD Kamal Uddin committed to completing the excavation within three months.
