Eight Kalapara villages flooded as dyke collapses

Over 2,500 farmer families in eight villages on Ramnabad river bank under Kalapara upazila of the district are uncertain about celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr this year as their houses and agricultural lands have been flooded by tidal surges and continuous heavy rainfall.

Around seven kilometres of a dike on the Ramnabad river collapsed during Cyclone Sidr in 2007, creating gaps that allow tidal water to enter and flood the villages.

The villages are Charipara, Chowdhurypara, Munshipara, Nayakata, Poshuribunia, Naupara, Chotopachnon and Boropachnon in Lalua union under Kalapara upazila.

The situation has been made worse by continuous heavy rainfall for the last three days.

Shahjahan Pyada, a farmer of Charipara village, said they have not cultivated their lands for several years as tidal water from the Ramnabad river floods their agricutural land and houses.

Growing paddy is damaged as saline water enters the fields every year, he said.

“We cannot move in the village as the roads have been under water for several days,” said farmer Bellal Hossain of the same village.

All families in the village face uncertainty over celebrating Eid this year, said farmer Alamgir Hossain of the village.

“We have not been able to cook for three days as the chula (oven) has gone under water,” said Mahmuda Begum, wife of Babul Sikder of Chowdhurypara village.

The damaged embankment on the Ramnabad river. Photo: Star

The dike along the Ramnabad river was badly damaged in the super Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and then repaired only in name. Tidal water enters the villages every year through the damaged parts of the dyke, which is the main reason for the suffering.

Kalapara (Circle) Water Development Board Executive Engineer Abul Khayer said most of the land on the Ramnabad river bank is under process of acquisition for the under- construction Payra port and Sher-e-Bangla naval base, which is why they cannot repair the dike.