7 BGB battalion HQ, other offices threatened

Commanding officer of 7 BGB Battalion, Shyamnagar UNO and WDB officials visiting the erosion affected Nildumur area of Satkhira on Saturday.Photo: STAR

Erosion by river Kholpetua has devoured a ferry terminal and at least 20 shops in Shyamnagar upazila in a day and now threatening a number of other important places in the area.
Locals said, the river eroded Nildumur ferry ghat and 20 shops at Nildumur bazar under Burigoalini union in the upazila on Friday.
They expressed the fear that 7 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion headquarters at Nildumur, Burigoalini police camp, Water Development Board (WDB) rest house at Nildumur and its adjoining areas will be devoured by the river any time.
Owners of many business establishments have already shifted their goods to safer places apprehending erosion by the river.
The embankment is also threatened as the river has come close to it due to the continuous erosion over the years, locals said.
Following Friday's erosion, people living on both the sides of the river are facing difficulties in crossing the river for absence of the ferry ghat.
Businessmen Akbar Hossain, Jamal Uddin and others told this correspondent that Nildumur ferry ghat and the shops owned by Bakkar Sheikh, Babu Gain, Ali Hossain and others were devoured by the river all on a sudden in the morning.
Burigoalini UP chairman Nazrul Islam alleged that though the ferry ghat was at risk, the authorities concerned did not take steps to check the erosion or repair the terminal.
Lt Col Anisur Rahman, commanding officer, 7 BGB battalion, told this correspondent that 7 BGB battalion headquarters, WDB rest house and police camp are now at risk and those may go into the river at any moment if the authorities concerned did not take early measures in this regard.