In Ulipur of Kurigram, the people who lost their lands in erosion, to prevent erosion, started the construction of bamboo made temporary dams on their own initiative, but now it is closed due to financial crisis. When the dam work started in Begumganj union surrounded by Brahmaputra, Udhkumur, Dharla ni in the upazila, thousands of people of some Char and Kaim areas affected by erosion were filled with hope, but because the dam construction work was stopped, they became hopeless and depressed again.
If the dam is implemented, Begumganj Union Parishad, Mollar Hat Bazar, Kashim Bazar, Khudir Kuthi, a large populated area including some educational institutions and arable land will be freed from erosion.
It has been reported that during the last monsoon season, the river overflowed in Baladoba, Sarkar Para, Bepari Para, Fakir Char, Rasulpur, Master Para, Mandal Para, North Baladoba Char Village, Mollar Hat Bazar, Baladoba Government Primary School, RDRS Office, Mashaler Char Government Primary School and one and a half. Thousands of families have lost their homes and become homeless and thousands of acres of prime land has been lost in the river. It is known from talking to the entrepreneurs of the dam construction, that several thousand people of Baladoba Char, Bepari Para, Sarkar Para and Rasulpur Char, who were affected by the erosion of Begumganj Union, decided to change the course of the river with a dam at Baladoba at the mouth of Udhkumar and Brahmaputra branch rivers.
According to the decision, money and bamboo were collected by collecting donations from village to village. On December 1, he started working on bamboo bundle dam voluntarily. The villagers completed the work with 4000 bamboos, 600 thin eucalyptus trees, 130kg iron nails, 70kg GI wire at the mouth of the river for about 1000 meters. But due to lack of materials to construct the remaining 500 meters, the work was stopped from December 20. As a result, the dream of protecting the last refuge of the helpless, poor people of that area has stopped midway.
They expressed their anger and said that at the beginning of the work, Water Development Board, Upazila Administration, Members of Parliament and various political leaders gave assurances but later they did not cooperate. They did not even give the least courage. As a result, this initiative of our poor people is about to fail.
At present they are extremely disappointed and disoriented with the construction of the dam. Lal Chad Fakir, Akalima Bewa, Achir Uddin and Rajab Ali of Bhanan area said, we eat by begging. We tried to save food money to build a dam to protect our homes. But now we have come to know that due to lack of money it is not possible to complete the construction of the dam. If this happens, our houses will be lost in the water of all the rivers.
Begumganj UP Chairman Bablu Mia said that when the dam work is completed, about 3,000 families in the area including Nutan Mollar Hut, Union Parishad Building, RDRS Federation Building, Begumganj Flood Shelter, various institutions will be freed from erosion. Aktar Hossain, President of Dam Construction Committee and President of Begumganj Union Awami League, said that if the dam work is not completed, the next monsoon may cause more erosion and there is a possibility that the entire Begumganj Union will be swallowed up in the river. Therefore, he sought the cooperation of the concerned authorities.
Upazila Parishad Chairman Golam Hossain Montu said, "I gave 50,000 taka in the beginning. Necessary action will be taken by inspecting the dam work. Abdullah Al Mamun, civil engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board, said that if this dam made of bamboo and wood is constructed, temporary erosion will be stopped. But there is no ability to support us financially. But I can give technical support and advice.
Upazila Nibarhi Officer Shobhan Rangsa said, I have visited that area. Encouraged entrepreneurs and people to build bundles. Besides, measures will be taken through various projects to solve the financial crisis.