Villagers volunteer to repair dyke in Jhalakathi

Villagers, finding no alternative, have joined hands for reconstructing a one kilometre embankment to stop Bishkali river erosion at Palat in Rajapur upazila of the district.

Despite repeated calls, the authorities concerned are yet to take any initiative to repair the damaged portion of the embankment, said locals.

They are also engaged in voluntary work to repair a damaged road there.

Bishkali continues to erode the area round the year, said Alamgir Sharif, a resident of the village.

Financed by a benevolent man of the area, the embankment reconstruction work started at the beginning of the month, he said.

Alamgir hoped that the work will be completed within this month.

At least 200 families, especially fishermen community, will be benefited after completion of the work, he said.

It is a matter of joy that they will be able to use the road after completing the work, said another villager Marry Akhtar.

“I get immense pleasures and mental peace by doing such works for the betterment of people.” said Shahadad Hossain Kajal, a businessman in Dhaka who passed his childhood and boyhood in the village.

Zakir Hossain, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Jhalakathi, said a project for building an embankment on the riverbank has been sent to the higher authorities but this time, the area is not enlisted in the project.

They will do work on it next time, he said.