Home ›› 24 Oct 2022 ›› Nation
Erosion caused by floods in Tangail’s Bangshi and Jhenai rivers threatens the township by the banks in Mirzapur upazila.
Floods are a common occurrence in this area every monsoon due to the onrush of upstream water. The level of erosion increases depending on the severity of the floods.
In the past few years, Bangshi and Jhenai rivers in the upazila have gobbled up houses, roads, and farmlands.
Recently the water level has started to rise again in the Bangshi River, and the strong currents led to erosion in several villages of Fatepur union. Due to this, several houses and farmlands on the banks of the river have already eroded.
The Kurni-Fatepur road connecting North Mirzapur with Mirzapur Sadar is on the verge of erosion. About 300 feet portion of the road to south of Fatepur Bazar and about 600 feet in the Tholpara area have already been washed away by the river.
Locals have started to throw trees and bamboos in hopes of protecting the embankment. They have urged the local administration to take immediate steps to protect the area from erosion.
On Friday, lawmaker from Tangail-7 constituency Khan Ahmed Shuvo visited the erosion area. He confirmed the local people that necessary measures will be taken to prevent erosion.
According to local sources, many areas of Tholpara, Fatepur, Bankata, Chakleshwar, Bailanpur, Patilapara villages of Fatepur union, and Gorail of Bhatram union have been eroded due to the rising water levels of the Bangshi and Jhenai rivers.
Many of the poor families of Bankata and Gorail villages lost their homes and became destitute. Most of the areas on the north side of Hilra Bazar and the road culverts adjacent to the bazar have already been washed away. A good amount of arable land has also been devoured by the river.
The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) constructed a paved road to ease the suffering of the residents of 10 villages in Fatepur and Mahera unions. However, recently the traffic movement on the road had to stop due to erosion.
Ramen Pal of Fatepur Palpara village said they are stacking trees and bamboo by the banks in an attempt to contain the strong current.
“This is a temporary solution and if the government does not take any immediate action, more of our land will get washed away,” he said.
The head teacher of Fatepur High School Md Farid Miah said the students of Tholpara, Bailanpur, Sutanori, Hilra and Adabari villages use the Kurni-Fatepur road to come to school.
“Half of the road has been washed away and it is risky for the children to use it. But if the road is fully eroded, many students will not be able to attend school anymore,” he said.
In this regard, Altaf Hossain, former president of Fatepur union Awami League, said Fatepur Bazar is a hundred-year-old traditional market.
“It was a popular trade centre for jute and coconuts which were brought through Bangshi and Jhenai rivers. If the road is washed away, this historical marketplace will disappear too,” he said adding that steps should be taken immediately.
Fatepur union parishad Chairman Abdur Rauf said, “The authorities concerned should immediately come forward to protect this road from erosion. Not only the people of North Mirzapur, but thousands of people of Basail upazila also travel through the Kurni-Fatepur road.”
Executive Engineer of Tangail Water Development Board Sajjad Hossain said the engineers of the board visited and measured the areas affected by erosion in Mirzapur.
“The process is underway to take necessary measures to prevent erosion. The water level has started to decrease, so we expect erosion will lessen naturally,” he added.
