Severe erosion has occurred in the Padma River in three unions of Mirpur upazila in Kushtia.
Government establishments, including homesteads, agricultural lands, flood control embankments, graveyards, schools, colleges, madrasah and highways in Talbaria union of the upazila, Sahebnagar of Bahalbaria union, Mirzanagar of Baruipara union have been eroded by erosion. Local people have requested urgent measures to protect these structures.
In Mirzanagar of Baruipara union, it was seen that destructive erosion of the Padma has intensified. Houses, agricultural lands in this area are disappearing into the riverbed. Many have left their homes. Cut down the trees on the banks of the river. At present, many structures including Mir Abdul Karim College, Mirzanagar Graveyard are at risk of erosion. Besides, the Kushtia-Pabna National Highway, a few meters away, is also under threat.
Ashraful Islam, treasurer of Mirzanagar Graveyard Committee, said, "The erosion of the Padma has come to the area adjacent to the cemetery. We used to go for a long walk to see the Padma previously, but now the river has reached in our area. Erosion has reached the area adjacent to the graveyard. It appears that the cemetery will go to the river soon. There is also a college nearby. It is also under threat of collapse."
Moudud Ahmed Rajib of Sahebnagar area said that the erosion of the river is not being prevented in any way. Although the Water Development Board (WDB) throws geo bags every day, there is no benefit. The embankment protecting the river banks and villages with geo bags has already been breached.
It was known that the intensity of erosion has increased with the decrease of water in the Padma. Three electric towers of the national grid have already gone into the river. In the last one week, more than 100 acres of land in Sahebnagar, Mirzanagar and Talbaria areas have gone under the riverbed.
Ishaque, a farmer of Bahalbaria village in the upazila, said several bigha of land have already disappeared into the riverbed. The way the river is breaking, our settlement will disappear soon.
Firoz Ahmed Jewel, assistant teacher of Bahalbaria Jamiul Madrasah, said, "The erosion of the Padma river has come very close to the madrasah. The way it is breaking, the madrasah can disappear into the river at any moment. We are in extreme panic."
Mufti Yakub Bin Ajmal, leader of the Padma River Protection Committee, said the intensity of erosion has increased recently due to the receding water level in the Padma. The local Sahebnagar Jamiul Madrasa building is under threat. ’
Rashidur Rahman, executive engineer of Kushtia WDB, said erosion is intensifying with the receding water level in the Padma. In the initial stage, geo-bags are being dumped to prevent erosion in the areas where erosion is intensifying. However, initiatives have already been taken to build permanent dams.
ZH
