Erosion renders 800 families homeless in Kurigram
Erosion by the River Brahmaputra has devoured a part of the embankment in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram.Photo: STAR
Erosion by the Brahmaputra River has rendered around 800 families in 15 unions of five upazilas homeless in the last 7-10 days. In the affected unions, at least 14 families lost their homesteads in Ghogadaho, eight in Jattrapur and 12 in Pachgachhi, 200 in Buraburi , 290 in Hatia , 20 in Begumganj and 18 in Shaheber-Alga, 32 in Raniganj, 25 in Chilmari, 17 in Austamir Char, seven in Thanahat and nine in Raman, 15 in Bandaber, six in Shaulmari and 15 in Datbhanga, 25 in Kodalkathi and 103 in Mohanganj union, said union parishad sources. The erosion victims have taken shelter on the road and embankment. The embankment, constructed at a cost of Tk 116 crore recently near Wapda sluice gate at Sardarpara village in Chilmari upazila, is also under the threat as it is only a few meters away from the point of erosion. At least 90 families in Chilmari upazila have lost their homesteads during the period, said Shawkat Ali, chairman of the upazila. Besides, more than 1,380 families in four unions under the upazila have left their homesteads fearing erosion any moment, he added. Abul Hossain, chairman of Hatia union, said “Some 300 families in Char Gujimari village have been rendered homeless due to the erosion”. While visiting some affected areas, victim Jamal Uddin of Rajarvita village in Thanahat union told this correspondent that the erosion made him a pauper, devouring his cropland and homestead. “Despite repeated requests, till now we did not get help from any quarter to mitigate our sufferings”, he said. Contacted, sub-divisional engineer at local Water Development Board (WDB) Shabibur Rahman said that his office recently 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