Brahmaputra erosion takes serious turn in Gaibandha
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
With the sudden swelling of the Brahmaputra, erosion has turned serious along the western bank of the river in Gaibandha Sadar, Fulchari and Shaghata upazilas. Besides vast croplands, at least 400 dwelling houses were devoured by the river in last four days, rendering over 100 people homeless. The erosion victims have taken shelter on the nearby flood control embankment. Another over 200 houses have been shifted to safer places, local people told this correspondent during a visit to the areas yesterday and the day before. The badly affected areas are Bhasherpara, Sayedpur, Kanchipara, Balashi, Fazlupur, Char Krishnamani, Gajaria and Ratanpur in Fulchari upazila; Hasilkandi, Kumarpara, Chinirpotal and Haldia in Shaghata upazila; and Moller Char, Karaibari, Chithulia, Hashdara, Baguria in the Sadar upazila. More lands in the areas are now threatened with erosion. The Brahmaputra is gradually approaching Gaibandha town due to erosion. The river is only about four kilometres from the town now, which was about 10 kilometres away fifteen years ago. The river will come closer to the town in few years if steps are not taken to check the erosion, said Akbar Hossain, Chairman of Kanchipara Union Parishad. Last year, the Water Development Board (WDB) allocated Tk 43 crore to check erosion at Kamarjani and Fulchari Sadar. But implementation of the river bank protection project is going on at a slow pace, local people alleged. They are afraid that in view of the slow implementation of the project, vast areas might be devoured by the mighty Brahmaputra in the coming wet season. Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations are demanding quick implementation of the WDB project to protect the areas. The local unit of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) on Monday brought out a procession and held a rally in Malibari demanding immediate steps to check the erosion and alleged irregularities by a section of WDB officials. BSD will hold demonstrations tomorrow and submit a memorandum to Gaibandha Deputy Commissioner to press their demand. When contacted, the WDB Executive engineer said erosion is taking place in some particular areas due to sudden increase in the water level. The situation will improve in few days, he claimed. About the allegations, he said the bank protection work will be completed before the monsoon.
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