Swelling Jamuna makes hundreds homeless

The erosion by the Jamuna River has turned serious at the onset of the rains, affecting around 800 families of 12 villages under Arjuna and Gabsara unions in Bhuapur upazila of Tangail in last one week.

In Gabsara union, over 200 families of Rajapur, Chondoni, Bihari, Falda Para, Bhuiyanpara and Chhoto Nolchhiapara villages lost their dwelling houses and at least 145 families lost their croplands there, local sources said.

Over 300 families of Ramail, Shushua, Arjuna, Gobindapur, Basudebkol and Jogotpura villages in Arjuna union lost their houses while about 150 families lost their croplands there.

The river has already devoured the two-storied building of a health centre and the structures of a high school, a government primary school and a community clinic in the union, local sources said.

Govindapur Haat, a traditional trade centre in the Jamuna char (landmass emerging from riverbed) area, is now under threat due to river erosion with the rise of water level of the river, they said.

Most of the erosion affected people in the villages are passing days amid sufferings as they hardly got any help any quarters, said the victims.

"I have lost my dwelling house and cropland in the river erosion. Now I and my family members are living after making a makeshift house on another man's land," said Abdus Sattar, 60, of Rajapur village in Gabsara union. 

"The Eid-ul-Fitr is only a few days ahead. While all are busy preparing to enjoy the festival, we are passing days in misery and none came to us with help," he added.

Shajahan Siraj, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Tangail, said they are continuing the emergency protection works in Arjuna at a cost of Tk 3 crore.