<i>After years of frustration, they do it themselves</i>
Villagers in Dinajpur volunteer to build dyke on Karatoa
Villagers carry mud as they start voluntary work to build a one-kilometre-long embankment to protect several villages under Binadnagar union of Nawabganj upazila under Dinajpur district from erosion by the Karatoa River on Saturday. Photo: STAR
Villagers have started voluntary work to erect a one-kilometre-long embankment on the bank of Karatoa River in Nawabganj upazila under the district, after years of frustration in absence of any initiative from the government authorities in this regard. Many people became homeless and landless due to yearly erosion by Karatoa River, especially during the rainy season, locals said, adding that people of Chakpara, Kutipara and Shonerpara villages under Binadnagar union have been worse victims of the erosion. Under the initiative of Nazrul Islam Fateh, chairman of Binodnagar union parishad under Nawabganj upazila, several hundred villagers started work to build the embankment. Shibli Sadiq, chairman of Nawabganj upazila parishad, was present to inspire the villagers during inauguration of the work at Bhotarpara village in the same union on Saturday. "We are dependent on cultivation on the riverbank lands, but every year our lands are eroded in absence of embankment on the banks," said Md Azibar Mia of Chakpara village. "Before every national election, MP candidates visit the area and pledge to erect embankment here, but the pledge remain unfulfilled," he added. "It will take around 40 days to complete the embankment. Then the villagers will start work to erect a wooden bridge over Gheernai River (a branch of the Karatoa) at Bhotarpara village. The union parishad is arranging the fund for materials for construction of the embankment and the wooden bridge," said UP Chairman Nazrul Islam. The bridge will help the local residents to get easy communication facilities for various purposes including treatment.
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