BOGURA, Sept 04: Erosion by the Jamuna river has taken a serious turn at Kaigari-Baroitali point of Bhandarbari union under Dhunat upazila in the district.
The Water Development Board (WDB) built the 1,000-metre embankment in Kaigari-Baroitali area in 2011 at a cost of Tk 120 million.
Sources said about 300 metres of the embankment has already gone under the Jamuna water. Thousands of people in the Jamuna riverbed area are thinking to take shelter to a safe place as soon as possible.
A good number of locals said the river has already eroded many houses, infrastructure and a vast tract of cropland.
Farmer Habibur Rahman said the authority should take steps to repair the damaged embankment as soon as possible. "We are frustrated over the situation", he added.
During a visit on Wednesday the correspondent saw CC blocks have been placed in the damaged portion of the embankment.
Atiqul Karim Appel, chairman of Bhandarbari union under Dhunat upazila, said the situation is deteriorating fast.
Deputy assistant engineer of WDB Asadul Haque said preparation is underway to prevent the erosion by placing sand-filled geo bags in the damaged part of the embankment.
Hasan Mahmud, executive engineer of Bogura WDB said, "We are informed about the situation. We will start work after receiving the fund."
Our correspondent from Rangpur adds: With the recession of flood water, erosion by the river Teesta has taken a devastating turn at Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha district, devouring over 60 houses at village Kapasia, Putimari, South Sripur and Lalchamar in the upazila.
A vast tract of crop land including vegetables fields have been eroded by the river, sources said.
Due to erosion around 150 people have become homeless in the upazila. Affected people are now facing acute crisis of food and shelter, locals said.
A good number of people of the river bank areas are shifting to different places to escape the erosion. Many people of the areas are passing days in anxiety, sources informed. Locals apprehended massive loss, if the situation continues for the next one or two weeks.
Many affected people said that the erosion took a serious turn devouring many houses and crop lands during last 10 to 12 days. "Erosion by the river made me a pauper," said Kalam (50) of Kapasia village. "My homesteads were eroded few days ago. Now my family members have taken refuge in temporary shelters," he added.
Locals alleged that Teesta erosion is continuing in the villages and it may engulf more areas soon. Many villagers are leaving their homesteads in fear of erosion, they added.
Abdul Jalil (55), of Putimari village said Teesta has devoured a vast tract of arable land and dwelling houses during last couple week. He had one acre of homesteads which were eroded by the river few days before, leaving him a destitute, he lamented.
In this situation the local people urged the government to take necessary steps immediately to prevent river erosion in the areas so that they can save their lives and property.
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