Madhumati devours road, homesteads

The lone road to go to Bir Srestho Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Library and Memorial Museum in Kamarkhali union under Madhukhali upazila of the district has been devoured in two places by the Madhumati river, threatening the museum.

The road from Kamarkhali bazar to Rouf Nagar village has been devoured in Gondokhali Purbopara and Rouf Nagar villages, 400 metres from the memorial museum.

Locals said the erosion started on December 6. The homesteads of Akidul Islam, Yunus Ali Mridha, Motiar Mollah and Sarwar Mridha were devoured by Madhumati river at Gondokhali Purbopara area, and 17 families in the same area are under threat of erosion.

The homesteads of Jakir Mridha, Tonu Mridha, Khalek Mollah, Kobbat Mridha, Tota Sheikh and Rajib Munshi were washed away at Rouf Nagar village. Bir Srestho Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Primary School and 23 families are under threat by the river, they said.

The memorial museum is also under threat of erosion as it is only about 400 metres from the devoured area.

“We are using different routes to go our school as the road has been devoured by the Madhumati,” said Afroja Begum and Fatema Khatun, Class X students of Bir Srestho Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf High School.                                    

Headmaster of the school Nazim Uddin Mollah said the school was established on 30 decimals of land two years ago, adding that it is now under threat of erosion.

“Most of that road has already been devoured, hampering communication of the area. I have informed our lawmaker Abdur Rahman about it,” Kamarkhali Union Parishad Chairman Jahidur Rahman said.

“We did our best to protect the road but failed. So now only Water Development Board (WDB) can protect the road,” Madhukhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Lutfur Nahar said.

“We are making a plan to protect the road, and we shall start work after completion of the design,” Executive Engineer of WDB Sultan Mansur said.