Even in winter, there’s erosion

"I have never seen such erosion in winter," said Md Abdul Karim, a resident of Binanai village in Sirajganj's Chowhali upazila, who currently lives under the open sky amid the cold winter.

"We are habituated with rampant river erosion over the years. But all these years, we could breathe a sigh of relief in winter. To our surprise, the silent Jamuna became furious in last few weeks devouring our homesteads," said Karim.

Sajeda Khatun, another resident of the village, said, "I have repeatedly shifted my house since monsoon. Now I have nowhere to go. Nobody cares enough to help us."

According to sources, 50 people have lost their homesteads for sudden river erosion on the last three weeks, while several hundred people -- living beside the river -- shifted their houses for evading erosion in Baghutia union of the upazila.

Contacted, Md Babul Sarkar, member of ward-3, however, said nobody was prepared for such an untimely erosion in winter.

"The river used to be calm in winter. However, this year, Jamuna river has turned furious and started devouring homesteads quickly," he said.

"Erosion victims are living in crises and we are unable to help them, due to the lack of preparation," he added.

Md Abul Kalam, chairman of Baghutia union parishad, said at least 50 homesteads were devoured in Jamuna in three wards of the union, stretching across one-kilometre area from Binanai to Char Salimabad in the last three weeks.

"Seven educational institutions are presently under the threat of erosion. We need permanent protection work for saving villages beside the river in Baghutia union," he said.

"Water development board (WDB) earlier dumped sand bags from Binanai to Char Salimabad point but the sand protection already went under the river. We have already reported about the sudden erosion seeking help for the victims," he added.

Contacted, Milton Hossain, sub-divisional engineer of Sirajganj WDB, said Jamuna is flowing downstream, so the river's upstream is badly affected.

"River erosion generally occurs due to the fluctuation of water levels in the river. As the water level recedes, the river flows downstream and so, the river's upstream dries up rapidly and erodes," Milton said.

WDB has already submitted a project of Tk 46 crore for the remaining work to protect the riverbank from erosion three-kilometre area.

However, the project is yet to be approved, said Milton.