Erosion by the rivers continues, destroying farm lands, houses, trees, habitats, important establishments, road communication and leaving many people destitute across the country. Erosion of the Padma river banks has been going on in Dangi and Bhangi Dangi villages under Dikrirchar union of Faridpur sadar upazila over the last seven days. Villagers said many houses, cultivable lands and other important establishments including educational institutions have already gone into the Padma in a week, according to media report.
With the advent of winter, rapid recession of water has triggered strong current in the Padma that has been causing erosion of the riverbanks, villagers and local administration said. The speed of current is more during the water receding time.
The most erosion vulnerable districts are Bogura, Tangail, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Pabna, Bogura, Kushtia, Rajshahi.
River erosion is
a long-standing
problem in Bangladesh
Crop lands, embankments and dams, many points of highways, village roads and, habitats, large number of shops, houses, religious institutions, educational institutions, hut, bazar and important establishments including hospitals have already gone into the rivers in the last five decades. We fear thousands of families of the vulnerable districts will be rendered homeless in the coming days as no permanent solution has been taken to this end yet.
River erosion is a long-standing problem in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Water Development Board and experts had discussed the matter with the ministers and top government officials and received commitments from them. But no sustainable project has been implemented yet
Natural disaster like floods and cyclones cause loss to people but they do not take away their land while erosion takes away everything.
As river erosion devours land leaving thousands of people homeless, destroying homesteads and engulfing cropland, the government must take planned and effective measures to prevent river erosion.
It should arrange housing for those losing their homes in flood and riverbank erosion alongside rehabilitating the landless and homeless people across the country immediately.
