Staff Reporter

Over 350 homesteads, vast tract of croplands and several other important installations in five upazilas of Sirajganj district have been devoured by the mighty river Jamuna in the last three weeks as swelling of the Jamuna river continues due to recent downpour and onrush of water from upstream.

The upazilas included Sirajganj Sadar, Kazipur, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur and Chowhali. Of them, Shahzadpur, Chowhali and Kazipur upazila are the worst affected. Many people of these areas have been lost their homesteads and have taken shelter on different roadsides. Many of them have been leading miserable life along with women and children under the open sky due to want of government or non-government supports, they claimed.

As several parts in the mentioned upazilas are still under threat of erosion, panic stricken people of the risky areas have started shifting their homesteads to safer places to avert massive damages. Those, who cannot afford to relocate their homes, are passing days and nights on roadsides under the open sky, enduring the ravages of sun and rain.

Desperate Struggle for Survival

Left with no shelter, displaced families are living in makeshift structures made of plastic sheets or enclosed with fishing nets to protect against wild animals. Many of them are also facing trouble over their domestic animals due to lack of foods and shelter.

Severe Destruction in Shahjadpur

According to the sources of WDB, the worst-hit area is Shahjadpur upazila, particularly Sonatani and Gala unions. In Kursi and Dhitpur villages alone, more than 200 houses have gone to the riverbed due to strong current in the past three weeks making many people destitute. Hundreds of acres of fertile farmland yielding paddy, jute, mustard and vegetables have completely disappeared, wiping out the livelihoods of local farmers.

The erosion has also washed away the historic Dhitpur-Kursi cattle market, crippling the local agricultural economy and livestock trade. Power supply remains cut off across the affected villages, disrupting students’ education and leaving farmers to guard their remaining livestock outdoors in total darkness to prevent theft.

Devastation at other upazilas

Erosion has also taken serious turn at some other places like Chargirish and Nishchintapur unions in Kazipur upazila, Khasrajbari, Khokshabari and Mesra unions in Sirajganj Sadar upazila, Khidrchapari, Enayetpur, Randhunibari and Shohagpur in Belkuchi upazila and Khaskawlia, Jalalpur, Umorpur and Baghotia in Chowhali upazila of the district.

Locals Stance and Demands

Locals have demanded long-term rehabilitation measures instead of showcasing so-called emergency works and relief distribution programmes. They want permanent solution to prevent river erosion in the areas.

Several hundreds of people in Shahzadpur upazila recently formed human chain and held rally at Kursi Baza’ar demanding permanent embankment to protect the locality from the devastation of Jamuna erosion.

Speakers at the demonstrations said, “We don’t want relief in every seasons, we want permanent solution to get rid from the clutch of erosion. We demand immediate rehabilitation of those people, who have displaced several times by the onslaught of Jamuna erosion.”

Official Stance

Shahjadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sabrina Sharmin stated that higher authorities have been informed and plans for rehabilitation are underway.

However, Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) in Sirajganj explained that, “Official protection work cannot start immediately because there are no approved projects for these specific Char areas. So, we have nothing to do for these people right now.”