Erosion victims form human chain on Jamuna bank
Erosion victims in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha formed a human chain on the bank of Jamuna yesterday, demanding immediate steps to stop the onslaught of the river.Photo: STAR
Several thousand people formed a four-kilometre-long (Kachua Bazaar to Bharatkhali) human chain on the bank of the Jamuna in Saghata upazila of the district yesterday demanding immediate steps to stop erosion by the river that continues to devour the area. Organised by 'Saghata River Erosion Protection Committee,' lawmaker Advocate Fazley Rabbi Mia, of Gaibandha-5 constituency, also joined the programme that lasted for four hours from 9:00 am. Expressing solidarity with the erosion-hit people, the lawmaker said he will immediately urge the authorities concerned to make all efforts to protect the area from onslaught of the river. Members of the committee later submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through the deputy commissioner, requesting her to save Saghata people from river erosion. Shamsul Azad, chairman Bharatkhali Union Parishad (UP), said houses of around 200 families at two cluster villages--Utter Sathalia and Gobindi--have already gone into the river while over 1200 other families in the union are shifting their household belongings to safer places as erosion has taken an alarming turn in the area. At least 26 educational institutions, including Bharatkhali Government Primary School, Bashhata Government Primary School, Gobindi Government Primary School and Kachua Hat Girls' High Cchool, are under the threat of erosion by the Jamuna, said Mosharraf Hossain Sweet, chairman Sahgata Sadar Union Parishad. Faruqul Islam, convener of 'Shaghata River Erosion Protection Committee,' said they will besiege the deputy commissioner's office next week to mount pressure on the government to take immediate measures to stop river erosion.
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