Three Manikganj upazilas face erosion threat
Thousands of people in three upazilas of the district have been passing sleepless nights in fear of erosion by the mighty Padma and Jamuna rivers.
Hundreds of houses, vast tracts of cultivable lands and many educational institutions have already been affected by the erosion of the two rivers in Shivalaya, Harirampur and Daulatpur upazilas.
This correspondent visited some of the erosion affected areas in Shivalaya and Harirampur upazilas on Monday and saw at least 15 houses at Annaypur village have already been washed away by the rivers recently.
Moreover, over 300 metre areas at Annaypur and Anulia village in Shivalaya upazila were seen on the verge of being eroded by the Jamuna river.
Many people have lost their homesteads and took shelters at their relatives' houses or in the open places.
Those, who do not have other places to go, are seen staying at home risking their lives.
Many locals said their houses were washed away by the river several times in the past, but if that happens again they will not be able to repair or rebuilt their houses.
Sixty-year-old Mukul Molla said the Padma is flowing nearer to his house and it might devour his homestead anytime.
Meanwhile, a large area in Kanchanpur union under Harirampur upazila is on the verge of being eroded by the mighty Padma.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is trying to check the erosion by putting sand bags in the affected areas.
Ninety-year-old Abul Fazal of Kanchanpur village said he lost his house on one hundred decimals of land a few days ago.
Shivalaya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jasmine Sultana said the Water Development Board has already started putting geo-bags in some of the affected areas to prevent the erosion.
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