Chapainawabganj Erosion: Nearly 50 houses lost to Padma
100 families rendered homeless in three weeks
Over 100 families have been rendered homeless by the Padma river's erosion at Goaldubi village under Sadar upazila of Chapainawabganj in last three weeks.
Around fifty houses were swallowed by the river in the meantime, said locals.
According to the locals, over fifty acres of farmlands, bamboo groves and mango orchards at Goaldubi village under Char Bagdanga union have been effaced during the last three weeks.
They said the people are shifting their houses from the erosion-hit places as the river is devouring fresh areas every day.
Several hundred structures are facing the threat of being disappeared into the riverbed.
While visiting the affected area of Goaldubi village recently, this correspondent found many families moving to safer places with their belongings.
"Severe erosion of the river has forced us to move to a safer place. As I have no land, now I have taken shelter in my sister's house at the village with my family," said Nazrul Islam.
"My house was devoured by the river erosion on Sunday last, since then I have been staying at my in-law's house at Dailpara under Sundarpur union of the upazila with my two sons and wife as I have no choice," said Rezaul Karim, another resident of the village.
Like the two, many others are taking shelter at their relatives' houses or living on lands belonging to other people making makeshift shelters.
Samjad Ali of the village, alleged that the Water Development Board (WDB) did not take proper steps in time to curb the erosion.
"If they worked timely, river erosion could be protected," he claimed.
My 3.5 bighas of land including a mango orchard have been devoured this season, he said.
The villagers urged the authorities concerned to take steps immediately to protect thousands of people and their properties, including vast areas of cropland and a good number of establishments, from erosion.
Sarwar Jahan Sujon, executive engineer of Chapainawabganj WDB said around 1300-metre-long stretch on the left bank of the Padma river under Char Bagdanga union is facing erosion. Of which, 670 metres at Goaldubi village have already gone to the riverbed.
They were dumping sand-filled GEO bags along the 670-metre-long stretch on the left bank to protect some establishments, he added.