Ashraful Islam Joy:

Hundreds of people on Saturday morning formed a human chain at Bhatpeary area under Chhongachha union of Sirajganj Sadar upazila demanding protection from river erosion and construction of permanent dam.

The human chain was presided over by Alhaz Zahurul Islam Dulal, trader and social worker of Bhatpeary village, while local Union Parishad member Amir Hossain, journalist Jakirul Islam Santu, Sheikh Enamul Haque, renowned businessman Farukh Ahmed, Sultan Mahmud, Selim Reza, Masud Rana, Chand Hossain and Shahidul Islam among others spoke on the occasion.

Photo: TDS

Speakers at the human chain said, “Hundreds bigha of croplands from Shimla to Bhatpeary have gone to the riverbed due to devastating erosion by the river Jamuna. Besides, several homesteads and installations of the area are now under threat of erosion. If the necessary measures are not taken right now, the protection embankment constructed by the WDB temporarily, may be affected with the erosion. It may cause of flood and furious erosion in the area. This is why, there is needed a permanent dam to protect the people and their assets from devastating erosion.”

The demonstrators demanded immediate steps to construct a permanent dam along the riverbank to protect the locality from the erosion.