Staff Reporter:

Panic of severe river erosion has been spread out among Chowhali dwellers as about 100 meter stretch of the Jamuna riverbank collapsed into the riverbed on Saturday morning.
Due to the rising of water level and strong current of the Jamuna River, about 100 metres of the riverbank near Janata Ghat area under Khashkaulia Union in the upazila have been devoured putting local residents and installation under threat.
WDB sources claimed that, the erosion took serious turn on Saturday (July 5) morning and washed out the mentioned portion from the bank. “Although, a large part of the eastern bank of the river has gone under the river due to the erosion, no home or structure has yet been damaged. However, as the erosion continues, extreme anxiety and panic have spread among the locals,” said Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Engineer of the WDB in Sirajganj after visiting the spot. He further said, “Dumping activities would be started soon.”
On information, Chowhali Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Mostafizur Rahman also visited the scene at around 5:30 pm on Saturday and assured the locals to take necessary steps to resist erosion and protect the vulnerable areas.
He said, “We are looking into the matter seriously. Necessary measures will be taken as soon as possible to prevent erosion.”
It is worth noting that, when the water level of the Jamuna River rises during the monsoon season each year, river erosion takes a serious turn at different parts of the upazila. In the last few years, many homes, educational institutions and crop lands have been devoured by the river. As a result, panic has been spread out among the local residents. Many of them have started to shift their homesteads to safer places to protect their valuables.
Panic stricken people claimed that, if the preventive measures are not taken right now, erosion may spread to other parts from the Janata Ghat area and threaten the surrounding settlements and roads.