Jamuna erosion wreaks havoc on Sirajganj villages

Erosion by the Jamuna River has turned serious in Shahjadpur upazila devouring many dwelling houses and vast tracts of croplands and trees in four unions in the last two weeks.
 
The erosion also started taking its toll on homesteads and croplands in Kazipur, Chouhali, Belkuchi and Sadar upazilas.
 
Locals said the erosion began following a rise in the water level of the mighty river over the last two weeks, rendering many people homeless.
 
Many houses and vast tracts of croplands and trees at a number of villages, including Chithulia, Tartia, Charpaikhand, Hatpachil, Bhatpara, Charthutia, Gudhibari, Jagtala, Dhirpur, Makra, Sripur, Chhoto Chantara, Bantiar, Pakurtala and Bheka villages under Jalalpur, Gala, Sonatuni and Koijur unions of the upazila went into the gorge of the    river due to the devastating  erosion.
 
Besides, the river started eroding homesteads and croplands in several places of Kazipur, Chouhali, Belkuchi and Sadar upazila.
 
Azhar Ali of Bheka village said the river ate up his homestead over the last few days, rendering them homeless. “We’re now living under the open sky,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, the victims alleged that the Water Development Board (WDB) was not taking any step to prevent the river erosion.
 
Saiful Islam, chairman of Koijur union parishad, said they informed the local WDB office and the upazila administration of the erosion but no step has been taken yet to prevent it.
 
He said the affected people were leading a miserable life losing their homesteads to the river erosion.
 
Executive Engineer of Sirajganj WDB Shafiqul Islam said the erosion started following a rise in the water level of the Jamuna River.
 
He also claimed that they were taking steps to prevent erosion in places where it has taken a serious turn.