Jamuna erosion makes 300 families homeless

With the recession of water level, erosion by the Jamuna River has taken a serious turn in Fulchhari upazila of the district.

The onslaught by the river rendered over 300 families in Kamarpara area homeless in a week. Besides, Fulchhari Degree College, Fulchhari Senior Alim Madrasa, a temple and Fulchari-Boramtair road face erosion threat.

"My house is less than 100 feet from the eroding cliff above the river that might engulf it in two days," said Ekramul, a day labourer of Kamarpara village.

"My homestead, together with five big trees and a bamboo cluster, has gone into the river," said Hasen Ali, a poor farmer of the village.

Huge chunks of river bank are being eroded by the surging water every day, engulfing structures, dwelling huts, tree and plants.

Erosion-hit people are shifting their houses and domestic articles to safer places. Many of them have shifted to a nearby flood control dyke after losing all their belongings, said Monotosh Roy, chairman of Gajaria Union Parishad under the upazila.

"The government has allocated Tk 90 lakh for dumping sand bags at the vulnerable points and Tk two crore more has been received for repairing the damaged portion of the river bank," said Atiqur Rahman, chief engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) in Rangpur.

After visiting the erosion affected areas, deputy speaker and lawmaker advocate Fazley Rabbi Mia said the government will do everything to control erosion. He also allocated Tk two crore for arresting erosion in the area.