Manikganj, Lalmonirhat
Erosion renders around 2,000 families homeless
The Jamuna devours a large portion of Bainya village in Jionpur Union of Manikganj district, right, the Teesta erodes homesteads and cropland at Holdibari village under Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat.Photo: STAR
Erosion in Manikganj rendered around 1,500 families homeless in the last one week and at least 270 families in Lalmonirhat in four days. Around 1500 families of Harirampur, Daulatpur, and Shivalaya upazilas of Manikganj became homeless as their homesteads went into rivers Padma and Jamuna in the last seven days. A large number of people took shelter in neighbouring houses or high lands while many are still shifting to safer places, reports our correspondent. While visiting Bainya village under Jionpur union and Kathaltoli village under Charkatari union of Daulatpur upazila on Thursday, this correspondent talked to many homeless people who narrated their woes. Del-e Ara, 60, a widow of Bainya village, said the Jamuna eroded away her tin-shed house on Monday. Her husband died 6-7 years ago. She borrowed Tk.12, 000 loan from an NGO and made the house where she lived with her two young sons. Now, she is passing days under the open sky. Sona Mia, member of ward no.1 of Jionpur union parishad, said the Jamuna washed away at least 50 houses of Bainya village in last seven days. He said the homeless are yet to get any aid. Sixty years old Joynal Sikdar of Kathaltoli village under Charkatari union said the Jamuna devoured his house on Wednesday. He along with his family members was seen leaving for safer places on an engine boat with cattle and other household goods. Abdur Rashid, chairman of Charkatari union parishad, said 407 families out of 427 in Kathaltoli village become homeless due to the river erosion in the last one week. The hapless people need urgent help, he said. In the meantime around 100 other families of Charkatari union have been marooned due to rise in water level. In Lalmonirhat, erosion by Teesta river devoured eight villages of three unions of Hatibandha upazila in the last four days rendering at least 270 families, including that of Sindurna union parishad (UP) chairman homeless. The erosion-hit people have taken shelter on high lands, school-college grounds in the nearby areas, reports a correspondent. The three affected unions are Sindurna, Dawabari and Patikapara. People at Paruliya village of Patikapara union told this correspondent that erosion took a devastating turn during the last four days. Erosion-hit Shomser Ali,65, of Paruliya said at least 32 families were rendered homeless during the period. Raisul Isla,50, another victim at Dawabari village of the upazila said, 63 families in his village have been severely hit. Many people are leaving their homestead in fear of Teesta erosion, he added. Moinuddin,60, at Sindurna village said 83 families have been rendered homeless in his village till yesterday noon. Vast lands with standing crops especially aman paddy have been devoured, he said. Union parishad chairman of Sindurna Khotib Uddin said the erosion started at noon on Tuesday and since then eroded away homesteads, crop lands, orchards and different establishments of the union. Hatibandha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ashrafuzzaman also said at least 270 families have been affected in the last four days. “I have already sent a letter to DC office seeking aid for the erosion-hit people of the upazila", the UNO said.
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