Mustak Ahamed Monir, Sarishabari (Jamalpur)
The Subarnakhali, a branch of the Jamuna flowing through Chakhatbari village in Sarishabari upazila, has been almost completely covered with water hyacinth, halting water flow and navigation and causing serious hardship to local traders and residents.
Once considered a lifeline for the area, the river was used daily by hundreds of boats and trawlers to transport and trade agricultural produce. Warehouses of wholesalers along the riverbank also made water transport easier and cheaper.
A recent visit found no visible water surface in large parts of the river as thick layers of water hyacinth have covered it. The water has turned dark and foul-smelling. No boats or trawlers can now operate because of the dense growth and accumulated debris.
As a result, traders along the riverbank are facing difficulties transporting goods by boat and trawler. The prolonged accumulation of water hyacinth is also disrupting the daily lives of local residents.
Residents are particularly concerned about health risks, saying stagnant water beneath the thick vegetation is creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and harmful insects. They fear the situation could increase the risk of diseases such as dengue and diarrhoea, particularly among children and elderly people.
Khorshed Alam, Mohammad Ali and several other residents of Chakhatbari village said hundreds of boats once travelled along the river every day, but navigation has now become impossible.
They called for immediate removal of the water hyacinth, restoration of water flow and dredging and renovation of the river to prevent a recurrence of the situation. They also urged the local administration to take prompt action.
Students Tariful Hasan Joy, Rahat Kabir Bappi, Hamim Mahmud and Jafiatunnnessa Soha, among others, said the river is located in front of their homes. They used to swim and bathe in it from childhood through their school and college years.
But they can no longer swim or bathe in the river because of the large amount of water hyacinth that has accumulated there for a long time.
The deteriorating condition of the Subarnakhali, which has long been part of the lives of local people, has caused widespread frustration among residents. #EK
