The second phase of erosion started in the ferry ghat area of Daulatdia Union of Goalanda Upazila on Friday morning after extensive area of 158 meter section of CC block made of concrete in Mizanpur and Godarbazar part of Municipal Council of Sadar Upazila was washed away in Rajbari.
About 30 meters of the river bank has been washed away by the erosion. Hundreds of homes are under threat.
Fearing demolition, they are moving their houses away from the river. The Water Development Board and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have not taken any effective steps to prevent the erosion.
On the spot, it was seen in the morning in Daulatdia area, 30 meters part of Majid Shekhar Para in Daulatdia launch ghat and No. 1 ferry ghat has been submerged in the river. The demolition started at 8:30 am and continues. Abu Member, Abul Mandal, Sohail Munshi, Mokshed Mandal, Ujjal Sardar's house and several other houses are being removed from Majid Sheikh's neighborhood of Daulatdia Union.
Local resident Nur Alam said the Water Development Board has not taken any effective steps to prevent the continued erosion of the Padma. I have been hearing for years that work will be done to prevent erosion but nothing has happened.
Local Hanif Mandal said the Padma River was 4-5 km away a few years ago. I have heard from there that work will start to prevent erosion. There was no work here except sandbags.
Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Dilsad Begum said the government is working to prevent the erosion of the Padma. The concerned authorities will be instructed to take action to find out about the newly started demolition.