'WAPDA projects are eyewash'

The erosion had its human toll also.

Rehana, 5 and Reshma, 11, were standing on the bank on Saturday last, looking at the river's fury. The soil eroded into the river and they disappeared, never to return.

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Boatman Alamgir, 40, drowned as his boat capsized on the same day.

At least 2000 families have become homeless and at least 3000 acres of agricultural land a nd two fish farms have disappeared in the two unions, according to local administration and people's representatives.

About two kilometers of embankment have been washed away in Sonapur and another three kilometers in Chandpur.

Golam Mustafa Mintu, Chairman of Chandpur Union Parishad, blamed WAPDA for its failure to check the erosion and protect the embankment.

WAPDA at times does some work but these are mere eyewash. Huge amounts are spent in the name of protecting the embankment and stopping erosion, but these to not produce any result because of improper planning, he claimed.

This year also, WAPDA took some initiatives, three days after an order from Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Birbikram, a lawmaker from the district, he said.

WAPDA Executive Engineer Riazuddin Ahmed said the Meghna erosion this year in amazing and unprecedented.

He said repair work of the embankment is going on and the erosion will be under control after the new moon.

Nishchinto Kumar Poddar, Upazila Nirbahee Officer of Tazumuddin, said he has sent letters to Bhola Deputy Commissioner Kabir Md Ashraf Alam to declare the area a 'distressed area' and to immediately start relief operation.

Some local people this correspondent talked to said a master plan is needed to protect the area and rehabilitate the displaced families because river erosion is a regular feature there.

Meanwhile, te local administration has distributed Tk 50,000 among the affected people. BJP President Naziur Rahman Manzu and local BNP leader Maksudur Rahman gave Tk 25,000 and Tk 10,000 respectively. Students in the area are also helping them.