TDS Desk:

The sea has turned turbulent under the influence of a low-pressure system and the new moon, pushing tidal water levels 1-3ft above normal.

In Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf Upazila, more than 200 homes on St Martin’s and Shah Parir islands have been inundated after uprooted trees made way for salty tidal water to enter residential areas.

Residents are now living in fear as water levels continue to rise.

Meanwhile, all boat services on the Teknaf–St Martin’s Island waterway have been suspended for four consecutive days due to adverse weather. The disruption has led to a shortage of essential goods, including food.

“The tidal water is flowing one to three feet higher than usual, breaking trees and letting salt water into the localities,” said Faizul Islam, acting chairman of St Martin Union Parishad.

“This has flooded more than a hundred houses. Erosion has occurred due to the tidal wave. Locals are panicking. If geo bags or blocks are not placed around the island, St Martin’s Island will disappear from the map.”

Syed Alam, a union parishad member from Ward No. 6 on St Martin’s Island, said: “The tide has caused erosion around the island. Salt water has entered the locality from multiple directions. If urgent measures are not taken, it will become difficult to save St Martin’s Island.”

Passenger and cargo boat movement between Teknaf and St Martin’s Island has come to a standstill for four days since last Thursday.

The island has been hit by moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds, damaging several boats. Fishing trawlers have been anchored around the jetty as a precaution.

“The high tide has flooded the middle, Dailpara, and Dakshinpara areas of the island, damaging trees and homes,” said Mohammad Aziz, a resident and employee of the Department of Environment.

“The island’s seedbeds and cultivated lands have also suffered significant losses. Several resorts along the seashore are underwater, and soil and sand have been eroded into the sea.”

“Every monsoon season brings food shortages,” said Habibur Rahman, general secretary of the St Martin’s Bazar Committee and a former union member.

“Now, with boats not operating, markets have run out of daily essentials. If this continues and supplies from Teknaf don’t arrive, a food crisis will unfold. The government should urgently deploy sea trucks and sea ambulances.”

Abdul Karim, a lineman for the St Martin’s Trawler Owners Cooperative Association, said passenger trawlers have been out of service since Thursday due to cautionary signal No. 3.

“Trawlers will resume operating once the weather improves.”

Rashid Ahmed, president of the Teknaf–St Martin’s River Route Service Trawler Owners Association, said three trawlers carrying passengers and supplies had left Teknaf for St Martin’s Island last Wednesday.

“But shipping has been suspended for three days since Thursday due to accident risks. This has halted the flow of goods and made life even more difficult for islanders who are already out of work.”

Faizul Islam, the acting chairman of the St Martin Union Parishad, added, “Shipping has been suspended for four days. There is a food crisis in the market. More than 200 people from St Martin’s Island are stranded in Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar after travelling for family-related matters.”

“All types of boat traffic have been suspended due to adverse weather,” said Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, Upazila Nirbahi (executive) Officer (UNO).

“Traffic will resume when the situation normalises.”

Shah Parir Island, part of Sabrang Union in Teknaf Upazila, encompasses Wards 7, 8, and 9 and is home to approximately 40,000 residents. It is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Naf River; the island is under significant threat.

In Golapara, Paschim Para, Dakshinpara, Dangar Para, Mistripara, Bazarpara, and Jaliapara areas along the sea coast, residents are gripped by fear. Should the dam give way, locals fear losing their homes entirely.

Mohammad Ismail, president of the local BNP unit, recalled a devastating 1991 cyclone that destroyed a 1km embankment on the island’s western side.

“It took 10 years and Tk 3 billion. The delay was due to corruption,” he said.

“Back then, about 10,000 acres of shrimp enclosures and cropland were submerged, and at least 4,000 homes, including mosques and madrasas, were lost. The current embankment, built three years ago at a cost of Tk 1.5 billion, is now collapsing. People are terrified as tidal water has breached the village over the embankment for the last three days.”

Kalim Ullah, headmaster of Shah Parir Dwip Government Primary School, said a 3km embankment was constructed along the island’s western and southern sides in June 2022 under the Water Development Board’s supervision.

“But soon after completion, the CC blocks of the embankment collapsed. This has left people panicked. I urge the government to urgently repair and rebuild a sustainable structure.”

Abdul Mannan, a ward member from Sabrang Union’s Ward No. 7, pointed to construction flaws.

“The dam structure in Dakshinpara, where sea aggression is strongest, was rushed. As a result, the blocks collapsed within days. Now, during monsoon, there’s real fear that tidal water will engulf the locality and destroy the dam.”

Md Delwar Hossain, senior fisheries officer of Teknaf and acting chairman of Sabrang Union Parishad, said tidal water has been breaching embankments on the island’s western and southern flanks for two days, flooding homes and farmland.

“At least a hundred homes have been submerged by the salty seawater,” he added.

Mizanur Rahman, deputy assistant engineer of the Water Development Board in Teknaf, said the higher authorities have been informed about the flooding.

“Renovation work will begin in the affected areas of Shah Parir Island in a few days,” he confirmed.