Erosion by Jamuna: Jalalpur, a village on verge of disappearance

Residents of Jalalpur village in Sirajganj's Shahzadpur upazila have been passing days in constant fear over the last couple of months since the mighty Jamuna river took a serious turn at the start of this monsoon and continued devouring most of the homesteads and vast croplands at the village.

"Seeing water bubbles created due to strong current in the river, we started removing our houses, but failed to save many other valuables. Alongside many other houses of the village, Jamuna engulfed my house within a few hours on Saturday night," Amanat Ali, a resident of Jalalpur village, said when this correspondent visited the erosion-hit village on Monday.

Mohir Uddin, a member of Ward No 1 under Jalalpur union, said more than 300-meter area, including over 50 to 60 houses, of the village have been washed away in the Jamuna since Saturday.

Erosion by the Jamuna continues devouring fresh areas at Jalalpur village, one of the biggest villages under the union, over the last couple of months, he said, adding that the water level started increasing in the river at the beginning of this monsoon and already devoured over 500 homesteads.

"There were around 650 houses at Jalalpur North and Jalalpur South village at the beginning of this year. The river suddenly took a serious turn couple of months ago and washed away hundreds of houses, croplands and many institutions," Mohir said.

Now there are only 100 to 120 houses existing while over 500 to 550 houses, a school, three mosques already gone into the river, he further said.

Affected villagers said they are living inhuman as the fresh erosion made them homeless.

"Now most of us are depending on relief as we do not have any earning and shelters," said Mohammad Ruhul, an erosion victim.

While talking to this correspondent, Shahzadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shah Mohammad Samsuzzoha said the upazila administration has already started relief distribution work at erosion-hit Jalalpur village.

Five tonnes of rice has been allotted for the erosion-hit victims on Tuesday, the UNO said.

They will help the affected villagers in their rehabilitation as soon the flood water reduces, he added.

Meanwhile, affected villagers fear that the rest of the village may devour in the river at any time as the river continues swelling.

They demanded permanent protection work to save the village from further erosion.

Contacted, Sirajganj Water Development Board (WDB) Sub Divisional Engineer Nasir Uddin said the WDB put sand bags at different places when the erosion started early this monsoon.

But, due to strong current in the river the temporary protection work washed away, devouring vast areas of the village, he said.

Protection work of 6.5-kilometre at a cost of around Tk 650 core has already been approved to protect Shahzadpur upazila from the river erosion.