River erosion intensifies in Madaripur

Continuous erosion by the Padma, Arial Khan, and Kumar rivers and their tributaries in Madaripur district has made several hundred families homeless in five upazilas.

With the floodwater receding, erosion has become a destructive force after floodwater engulfed new areas in Shibchar, Kalkini, Madaripur Sadar and Rajoir upazilas of the district in the last few days, increasing sufferings of people who were already devastated by the floods.

Residents living along the banks of Padma, Arial Khan and Kumar rivers have turned destitute after losing their homesteads, croplands and belongings to river erosion.

Few are trying to save their valuables and raising sheds on other people’s lands with whatever they could salvage from their old homes.

However, most of the destitute people are taking shelter on bridges, embankments and other public spaces and continue to live in an inhuman condition under the open sky.

The river erosions have devoured different establishments, including educational institutions, union parishad buildings, mosques, community clinics, haats and bazaars, croplands and roads, and 30 more major establishments were now at risk of collapsing into the river any moment, the upazila administration office said.

According to the Madaripur Water Development Board office, the water level in the Arial Khan River rose by 23 cm in the last week. At present, the water level on the Mawa point of the Padma river was at 6.29 cm, which is 19 cm above the danger line.

Besides, water levels in other major rivers in the district have also increased, and continue to engulf other dry areas.

Although the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) dumped geo-bags in some places, the locals alleged the move was insufficient in solving the issue.

Alauddin Badshah, a resident of Katla village under Madaripur Sadar upazila, told The Business Post that he fears that if the BWDB does not take any appropriate measures, the only ferry terminal in the district will soon collapse into the river.

“We lost 30 to 40 shops to river erosion last year. BWDB dumped some sandbags last year, but this year their efforts are largely insignificant to stop the erosion,” said Alauddin.

Mojnu Mollah, who became destitute after floods and consequent river erosion devoured his homestead, said: “My ancestral property has been lost to river erosion. I have lost my house and 40 decimals of land, which was the only means to earn a living.”

“I do not know where I would go with my family,” added Mojnu.

Bellal Miah, a local shopkeeper in the area, told The Business Post that he has a shop by the banks of the Arial Khan River, which is now under threat of collapsing.

“Three shops with goods worth Tk2,00,000 near my shop have collapsed into the river and my shop is probably next.”

Bacchu Matabbar, a resident of Shibchar upazila, told The Business Post that he had shifted his poultry farm to another place, but his house is likely to collapse into the river very soon.

“If officials from the BWDB take measures soon, my house can be saved from river erosion,” said Bacchu.

Addressing the issues, Partha Pratim Saha, executive engineer of the Madaripur Water Development Board, said: “We have visited the site and will take measures to mitigate the crisis.”

He also said that they had dumped some 6,000 geo bags in the erosion-prone areas, but the strong currents of the river had washed it away.