Erosion in Lalmonirhat makes 150 families homeless in two days
Kurigram victims block road
At least 150 families at four villages of Sadar and Aditmari upazilas became homeless in the two days as erosion by the rivers Teesta and Dharla took an alarming turn in the areas.
The affected villages are Kutirpar and Gobordhan in Aditmari upazila, Boalmari and Badaitari in Lalmonirhat Sadar, said administration sources.
Victim Hafizar Rahmani,63, of Kuttirpar village said erosion by the Teesta river devoured scores of houses in his area.
“My homestead has been eroded away for the fifth time on Tuesday noon. Now all of my family members have taken shelter at a relative's house at neighbouring village. Some 40 families in this village were rendered homeless in the last two days,” he said.
According to Azizul Islam Vatiya,70, of Boalmari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar, at least 45 families in his village have become homeless due to erosion by river Dharla in the last two days.
The two rivers continued erosion forcing the villagers to leave their homesteads for safer places. Many lands with standing crops especially maize have been eroded, villagers said.
Erosion victims at Boalmari village said, hundreds of acres of cultivable land, gardens, bamboo clusters have been eroded away by the river Dharla in the last 48 hours.
Mohishkhocha UP chairman Mohammad Hossain said, at least 70 homesteads have been devoured by the Teesta at Kutirpar and Gobordhan villages during the period. He said he submitted a prayer to Aditmari UNO for necessary steps in this regard.
Mogholhat UP chairman Habibur Rahman Habib said, around 80 homesteads of Boalmari and Badaitari villages have gone into the Dharla in the last two days.
Sadar UNO Raja Miah and Aditmari UNO Parvez Hasan told this correspondent that their offices have already taken preparation to help the erosion victims.
“We have informed the matter to WDB to take necessary step to check river erosion,” Sadar UNO Raja Miah said.
In Kurigram, people of Sonahat area under Bhurungamari upazila yesterday morning blocked road for two hours and staged a demonstration demanding steps against erosion by the river Dudhkumar, reports our correspondent.
The Dudhkumar river is eroding away lands on the western side of the century-old Sonahat bridge in the area, locals alleged.
The erosion victims blocked the road wielding bamboos near the bridge demanding immediate measures to protect it and the area from river erosion.
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