Erosion by Jamuna renders 350 families homeless
Victims form human chain in Gaibandha
Erosion by Jamuna River devouring homesteads in Hasil Kandi village in Shaghata upazila of Gaibandha. Over 350 families became homeless in the last one week.Photo: STAR
Erosion by the Jamuna River has rendered at least 350 families of Hasil Kandi village under Shaghata upazila homeless in the last one week. Demanding steps to stop the erosion, a few hundred char people of the village formed a human chain on the bank of the river on Sunday. The erosion hit people took shelter on nearby embankment amid miseries without any food and drinking water. Amjad Hossain, a farmer at the village, said the river devoured a large number of homesteads, croplands and trees. A bamboo spar constructed by the villagers last year on self-help basis to protect the area from erosion has also been washed away by the river, he added. Around 500 more families are facing serious threat due to rise of water level in the river, said other villagers. A number of educational institutes, a mosque and vast croplands in the village may also be engulfed by the river soon, they said. Besides human chain, the villagers arranged special prayers to get relief from the river erosion. While visiting the affected areas, this correspondent found scores of people, fearing further onslaught of the river left there homesteads and took shelter on the embankment. Victim Saiful Islam said the erosion devoured his cowshed while he was shifting the homestead to a safer place. Abdur Rouf, former chairman of Shaghata union, said they informed the Water Development Board (WDB) authorities about the matter but to no effect as yet. Contacted, Gaibandha WDB executive engineer said they have sent a letter to the higher authorities, seeking fund to tackle the situation.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments