Bangladesh loses territory, India gains

Newly emerged shoals in the Ichchamati river at Shamshernagar in 24 Parganas district in West Bengal (left) and people at Komorpur village in Debhata in Satkhira dumping trees in a desperate attempt to check erosion of the river. Photo: Abu Ahmed

Satkhira's map has changed as seven to eight kilometre area in Kolaroa, Debhata and Kaliganj upazilas have disappeared over the years due to continuous erosion by the two rivers and change of their courses.

On the other hand, landmasses have been added to Indian territory following emergence of shoals on the other side of the rivers.

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The Sonai river earlier flowed through Kolaroa upazila but is a common river now as it moved inside, swallowing lands in Bangladesh and forming landmasses on the Indian side adjoining 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.

Indians have built scores of brick kilns on the newly emerged shoals in the river, which was part of Bangladesh earlier. The brick kilns are visible from this side of the river.

The Ichchamati still flows inside Bangladesh but is continuously devouring lands and forming shoals in 24 Parganas district.

This happened as the Water Development Board (WDB) failed to check erosion because its projects were inappropriate and short-sighted, sources said. The WDB takes up projects almost every year but those are not even properly implemented due to corruption by a section of officials, they alleged.

On the other hand, India checked erosion on the other sides of rivers, which helped accrue landmasses, they said. They have implemented long-term projects which checked erosion and helped formation of shoals.

The continuous erosion by Ichchamati has now taken a serious turn in Haroddah, Komorpur, Padma Shakhra, Sreerampur and adjoining villages in the sadar upazila and at Bhatshala, Bashantapur, Sreepur and Shushilgati villages in Debhata upazila.

Komorpur and Bhatshala villages will disappear any time if the erosion by the Ichchamati continues at its present ferocity, villagers said.

The river has already devoured scores of homesteads, educational and religious institutions.

They said Shibnagar village was part of Bangladesh earlier. Most area of the village has now disappeared into Ichchamati and shoals have appeared in Shamshernagar village in 24 Parganas district as the river is changing its course due to erosion.

People in Khanjia and adjoining villages in Kaliganj said they are panicked by the Ichchamati erosion this year.

The number of people affected by the erosion is anybody's guess. Some say it would be over 50,000.