Fear has gripped the residents in the coastal areas of Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira as most of the embankments have turned fragile over the years due to the negligence of the authorities concerned.
Their worry grows when a cyclone is developed over the Bay of Bengal or the weather department predicts any cyclone or tidal surge in the coastal districts.
Recently the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning about the possible formation of a cyclonic storm “Mocha” in the southeast Bay, which has sparked fear among them.
The cyclone is likely to make landfall on the eastern coast of India and possibly in parts of Bangladesh between May 7 and 9, it said.
Most of the embankments in Koyra upazila of Khulna are very vulnerable, with some only having two to three feet wide earth embankments, said locals.
They said the risks are high as water may enter the localities due to the collapse of embankments in different parts of the area, putting the houses and lives of many at risk.
After cyclones Amphan and Yash, broken embankments were repaired at 21 places in Koyra, and 20km of damaged embankments were repaired with soil and sandbags, according to the local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Currently, renovation work in more than seven kilometres is underway, but the 9-10km embankment is still at risk.
Residents of different areas, including Koyra No 6, Koyra Ring Dam No 4, Ghatakhali, Harinkhola, Madinabad Launch Ghat area, Mathbaria, Koyra No 2, Hogla, Gazipara, Golkhali, Haztkhali, Jorshing, and Maheshpur, are worried as 12km embankment area is in a vulnerable condition, according to locals and WDB officials.
Furthermore, eight sluice gates for water supply in the Kapotaksho and Shakbaria rivers are lying inoperative, and Nayani and Sutia Bazar-adjacent sluice gate of the Shakbaria River are on the verge of collapse.
Locals blame the authorities' indifference in repairing the vulnerable embankments and they have urged the officials concerned in the areas for a permanent solution.
Hemlata Mandal's house is situated beside the embankment of the Shakbaria River.
"This embankment collapsed twice before. Despite the construction of a larger embankment later on, it collapsed a few days ago,” he said, adding that the embankment collapsed because it was built with sand.
Uttar Bedkashi Union Parishad Chairman Sardar Nurul Islam said, "Embankments were built using new technology in Gazipara and Gatiragheri areas of my union, but they collapsed within a year."
He urged the government officials concerned to find a permanent solution to the issue.
The embankment of Shakbaria River in the Katkata area of North Bedkashi union is also at risk due to severe erosion.
Landslides have caused about four kilometres of the embankment to erode from North Bedkashi to South Bedkashi.
In some areas, the soil on both sides has shifted, narrowing the embankment.
Mozaffar Hossain, a member of Ward 8 of South Bedkashi Union Parishad, expressed concern saying, "Shakbaria and Kapotaksha flow on both sides of our union. The erosion of these two rivers will soon leave the union as an isolated island."
A decade ago, the distance between the two rivers was more than two kilometres, he said.
Moni Shankar Roy, a resident of Nayani area and a member of Ward 2 of Maheshwaripur Union Parishad, blamed the authorities for their indifference to repairing the vulnerable embankment. "We fear for our safety due to the vulnerable embankments and water bodies, but the authorities are procrastinating," he said.
Maheshwaripur Union Parishad Chairman Shahnewaz Shikari said the embankment collapses every year, leaving some residents destitute.
He also warned that high tides in the river could cause significant damage if the embankment breaks.
The issue has been raised with BWDB officials numerous times, but a permanent solution has yet to be found, he said.
He stressed the importance of river management and suggested the use of paving blocks as an alternative solution to repair the risky embankment.
Koyra Upazila Chairman SM Shafiqul Islam said Koyra’s permanent embankment construction project has been approved, and it needs to be implemented on an urgent basis.
In this regard, BWDB Khulna Deputy Assistant Engineer Md Romit Hossain Moni said they have submitted the list of vulnerable embankments in Koyra to the higher authorities, and work will be done on an urgent basis before the monsoon.
