Erosion makes 250 families homeless in Tangail

The mighty Jamuna devouring homesteads and lands in Bobra Boira area in Bhuapur upazila. PHOTO: STAR

The Jamuna, in last few weeks, devoured 20 villages in Gabsara, Govindashi, Nikrail, Arjuna, Betna, Teghuri, Sarai, Rayer Basalia and Bamanhata unions.

About 1,000 erosion-affected people of 250 families have lost their 500 dwelling houses while 400 families have been shifted to safer places.

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Gabsara is the worst affected union where Beltiapara Primary School and two mosques have gone into the river bed in last few days while Rulipara High School, five primary schools and a two-storied union health complex building face threat.

Tangail BWDB (Bangladesh Water Development Board) sources said, about 300 feet of Pigna-Zokerchar flood control embankment in Teghuri and Sarai areas have been damaged due to development of cracks at 15 points. Bhuapur- Tarakandi flood control embankment-cum road is also under threat of erosion, the sources said.

A senior BWDB official said they suggested repairment of the two embankments and sought funds for it.

Erosion is a perennial problem in the district.

According to a survey conducted by Shuvo Unnayan Shangtha, a local NGO, people of 50 villages in Bhuapur, Kalihati, Gopalpur and Tangail Sadar upazilas have lost 20,000 dwelling houses and thousands of acres of agricultural lands have gone into the riverbed from June 1998 till October last year.

About one lakh people have become homeless and became pauper during the period. They are passing days in misery on different flood control embankments and roads.

The Jamuna also devoured 56 educational institutions, 50 mosques, three cattle markets and five police camps over the last seven years.

A strong guide embankment has been constructed on the western bank of the Jamuna to protect Sirajganj from erosion during construction of Jamuna Bridge. But nothing has been done to protect the eastern bank of the river in Tangail. As a result, erosion has intensified in four upazilas in the rainy season every year due to onrush water from the upper catchment.

Seventy-five per cent of Gabsara union have already gone into riverbed.

Besides, Hugra, Kakua and Katuli unions in Sadar upazila, Salla and Durgapur unions in Kalihati upazila and Hemnagar union in Gopalpur upazila are also affected by erosion.

Alipur, Jidhah, Jidhah Khash, Afzalpur and Char Hamzani in Kalihati upazila have been devoured while Nalin Bazaar in Gopalpur upazila faces the threat of erosion.