1000 families homeless in 3 months

Erosion by Brahmaputra devouring homesteads in Mollarchar in Gaibandha Sadar upazila.

The union in the Sadar upazila covering six villages was a bastion of freedom fighters who conducted operations in different areas of Gaibandha district from there. But Brahmaputra has devoured almost one third of the area in last three months, rendering over 1000 families homeless. More 100 families are counting days and planning to shift elsewhere as erosion is unabated, local people told this correspondent on Thursday.

Though erosion started about five years back, it accentuated during the last wet season.

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The six villages in the mid-stream of Brahmaputra are Sidhai, Kazirchar, Mollarchar, Chilimpara, Mowlavirchar and Chithulia Digor.

The river has devoured vast areas of cultivable lands, houses, schools, madrasas and other structures.

Once the population of this union was nearly 25,000, which came down to roughly 12,000 in last ten years due to erosion. Local people said 982 families lost homes during floods this year and they left the area.

Over 80 percent of its people are ultra-poor. They have no option other than working as day labourers.

Only two percent people of Mollarchar are land owners, who have occupied most of the accrued lands either by muscle power or fake deeds, local people alleged.

Earlier, there were six government primary schools, five non-government schools, three madrashas and one high school in the union. Many of the schools have been shifted to different places due to erosion. To the utter disappointment of local people, primary school teachers posted there do not attend schools regularly. They go to schools once or twice a month and engage local youths in exchange of Tk 500 to Tk 700 per month, the local people alleged.

The education system is on the verge of collapse, said Sajeda Begum, women member of Mollarchar Union Parishad.

Another UP member Hafizur Rahman said everyday the number of destitute people is increasing due to erosion. "We could not provide adequate help in time of need for want of assistance from the district administration", he said.

"I am also a victim of erosion and have taken shelter at Gaibandha Sadar after losing my homestead and cultivable land", said Mollarchar UP Chairman Saidur Rahman. "I have a small shelter at Chithulia Digor from where I conduct official activities", he said.

The government's Shoal Livelihood Programme (CLP) for self-employment has not yet been introduced in the area, said Nirmal Chandra, Programme Manager GUK.