Dharla continues to devour homesteads, farmlands

Around 100 homesteads, 150 bighas of farmland and fruit orchards have been devoured by the Dharla River in Mogholhat union under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

Nazrul Islam Bhuttu, member of Mogholhat Union Parishad (UP) said the affected villages are Baparitari, Etapota, Karnapur and Badaitari. He said many homesteads, croplands and fruit orchards in the areas are still under threat of erosion by the river.

Farmer Nayebor Ali, 56, of Baparitari village, said his five bighas of land with standing maize crop were devoured by the Dharla in the last two days. "I had only five bighas of arable land, and now my homestead with eight decimals of land is under threat of erosion," he added.

Mujibar Rahman, 60, of the village said he along with his five-member family have become homeless as their homestead was washed away by the river yesterday. "The river has also devoured our fruit orchard on two bighas of land," he said.

Noor Hossain, 48, of Etapota village said the Dharla devoured his homestead and two bighas of land with standing maize crop in the last two days. Hossain said his six bighas of land and a fruit orchard face erosion treat.

Asaduzzaman Miah, 44, of Baparitari village said they have become landless as their homestead was eroded by the Dharla yesterday.

Ershadul Islam, 42, of the same village said he and his family members have become homeless as the river engulfed their homestead. "I don't know where we will go, or how I will maintain the family," he added.

Habibur Rahman, chairman of Mogholhat Union Parishad (UP), said it was not possible to save homesteads, croplands and fruit orchards from erosion by the Dharla River without emergency protection work at these villages. "I have already informed the Water Development (WDB) authorities about the situation and requested them to take immediate steps to save the villages from the onslaught of the river," he said, adding that the erosion-affected people will get government help soon.

Abu Bakkar, executive engineer of WDB in Lalmonirhat, said he has already informed the authorities concerned and sought funds. "If I get funds, we will take necessary steps to to check erosion," the engineer said.