Staff Reporter:

Hundreds of agitating people from several villages of Songachha and Khokshabari unions in Sirajganj Sadar upazila on Saturday formed a human chain on the bank of Jamuna river in Bhatpiari village demanding construction of crossbar or permanent dam to prevent erosion of the Jamuna river.

The demonstrators from at least eight villages including Bhatpiari, Panchthakuri, Parpanchil, Shimla of Songachha Union and Brahmanboyra, Panchil, Daulatpur villages of Khokshabari Union participated in the human chain and chanted several slogans like ‘Prevent river erosion, save Songachha and Khokshabari Unions from the devastating erosion’.

Songachha Union Parishad Member Amir Hossain, Journalist and Deputy Office Secretary of the district BNP Sheikh Enamul Haque, Maulana Mokhlesur Rahman Mukul, Teacher of Motiyarpur High School Badsha Alam, Bachchu, Nasim Reza, Shamim Reza, Hossain Ahmed Sohag and Shahidul Islam among others spoke on the occasion.

Local Union Parishad Member Amir Hossain said that, “Four dams were built to prevent erosion before 1996. Those have been devoured by the Jamuna River many ago. But, no action was taken during the Awami League government regime. Many homesteads, vast tract of croplands and several installations have been devoured by the mighty river Jamuna in the last years.

Some sand sacks along with Geo-textile have been dumped in response to the demands of local villagers during the incumbent interim government. If the initiative to build a crossbar or permanent dam to prevent erosion of the Jamuna in these two unions is not taken soon, we will go for tougher movement along with the affected villagers.”

Sirajganj District BNP Deputy Office Secretary, Sirajganj Press Club Office Secretary Sheikh Md. Enamul Haque said, “In view of our demands, few sand sacks were dumped at the affected points. However, the erosion has now taken serious turn due to the negligence of the Water Development Board officials. If the necessary steps were taken in the dry season, it would have been much more effective in preventing erosion. Dumping some Geo-bags in the rainy season will not bring any good impact. It is not possible to prevent this erosion because the Water Development Board (WDB) officials are not taking proper steps. I strongly demand from the interim government to take immediate initiative to construct a crossbar or permanent dam to protect the people of Bhatpiari, Panchthakuri, Parpanchil, Shimla of Songachha Union and Brahmanboyra, Panchil, Daulatpur villages of Khokshabari Union from erosion.”