Erosion: 1500 families made homeless in two weeks in Kishoreganj

Fait accompli...Families at Babunagar village on the bank of Ghurautra river in Kishoreganj counting days when they will become homeless. PHOTO: STAR

Besides vast croplands the river has devoured at least 2000 homesteads, six primary schools and five mosques in Dighirpar, Baliadi, Maijchar and Humayunpur unions.

Babunagar, Tookbaliadi, Lalkhan Char, Shaladi and Maijchar villages are the worst hit, local people and administration sources said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Several thousand people of the homeless families are now passing days amid great hardships.

Local lawmaker Mojibur Rahman Manju has opened a temporary shelter at his village for the homeless people. More people may become homeless in days if the government does not take any step immediately to stop the erosion, he told this correspondent during a visit to the area recently. Several hundred areas of cropland have disappeared and the river will devour more lands if steps are not taken immediately. The government should send relief materials for the affected people, he said.

Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner Yusuf Hossain visited the affected area and granted 10 tonnes of rice and Tk 10,000 as relief. But this is too meagre to the needs, the affected people said.

Bajitpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Karim said the local administration is taking all possible steps to help the displaced people. But he said nothing tangible is possible without government assistance.