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Padma Erosion Takes Serious Turn At Naria

500 business establishments devoured in three days

Published : Friday, 7 September, 2018 at 12:00 AM  Count : 288
Abul Bashar
SHARIATPUR, Sept 7: The Padma River erosion has taken a serious turn at Naria Upazila of the district on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, 500 business establishments including Dewan Clinic and four three-storied buildings of Imam Hossain Dewan and Nur Hossain Dewan of Mulfotganj area have been devoured by the river during the last three days. Besides, 200-year-old Mulfotganj Bazaar with 300 shops has been devoured at the same time.
According to the government statistics, at least 4,000 people became homeless due to the Padma River erosion during this season. Furniture and other equipment of Naria Upazila Health Complex have been shifted to another place due to the erosion threat.
At least 1,000 business establishments of Mulfotganj Bazaar including government and non-government offices, bank, insurance, pharmacy, school, madrasa, mosque and other institutions are under the threat of erosion. Mulfotganj Madrasa may be lost in the river anytime. People of the area are passing sleepless nights. They are shifting their houses elsewhere. The victims complained they got no help from the government.
While visiting the erosion-hit areas including Mulfotganj, Bashtola, Sadhurbazar, Sureshwar, Kaderpur and Saheberchar under Naria Upazila early Friday, this correspondent found that Padma was devouring croplands, houses and trees within a moment.
The erosion-hit people have no alternative livelihood. They are starving with their families. Most people of Mulfotganj, Bashtola, Chandipur, Kaderpur and Sureshwar areas have gone elsewhere and the rest are also packing up their belongings.
Most of the victims have been passing their days under open sky. The local people alleged the government took no step to check the erosion.
Imam Hossain Dewan, former chairman of Kaderpur Union Parishad under Naria Upazila said, "We are trying to save our houses and other properties by making dams with bamboo, tree, sand and other objects but it is not checking the erosion."
He also said, at least 2,000 families of wards no. 1 and 2 of Kaderpur Union and Mulfotganj and Bashtola under Naria Upazila became homeless in last one week's Padma erosion.
Nazrul Islam, member of Naria Bazaar Banik Samity said the Padma became more furious this year. The river erosion has already turned about 2,000 families homeless in Kaderpur, Ghorishar and Sureshwar unions of the upazila. Meanwhile, Padma has devoured about 1,000 houses at Sureshwar, Saheberchar, Kunderchar, Chandipur and WAPDA areas under Naria and Khejurtala, Nawdoba, Palerchar and Majhir Ghat areas under Janjira Upazila in a week. The victims have taken shelter at safer places with their belongings.
The people of riverbank areas are moving elsewhere to escape the fury of Padma.
Shahidul Islam Babu Rari, mayor of Naria Municipality, said, the river has also devoured Chandipur bus stand, Chandipur launch ghat, WAPDA Bazaar, Saheberchar Bazaar and Sureshwar Bazaar. The 200-year old WAPDA launch ghat has already gone into the river.
He also said the strong current of Padma has already washed away Chandipur-Sureshwar road while Naria Municipality, Mulfotganj Madrasa, Naria Bazaar and Sureshwar High School and College are under erosion threat.
The map of Naria and Janjira upazilas has already changed and the land mass of the upazilas reduced due to random erosion by the Padma, opined local experts.
Md. Mobarak Ali Sikder, chairman of Janjira Upazila Parishad, said, at least 1,000 families of Kunderchar and Khejurtala villages under Janjira Upazila became homeless during last few days due to the erosion. Besides, Khejurtala Bazaar with 10/15 shops, two mosques, one primary school, one-third part of Sureswar protection dyke and vast croplands have already been devoured by the Padma in last one week.
Local people said the Padma has become more furious this year than the previous years. The erosion occurs twice a year- once during onrush of flood water and again during recession of water.
The affected people who have taken shelter at different places are suffering from various diseases including cold, dysentery, diarrhoea, enteric fever and hepatitis for want of pure and safe drinking water, said Md. Nazrul Khalifa, a local village doctor.
Most of the people are passing their days half-fed and un-fed as they have no work. Many of them are begging while some are committing anti-social activities. A large number of women are engaging in earth digging and working at hotels, brickfields and husking mills. The number of woman agricultural labourers has increased recently.
The affected people urged the government to take immediate steps to build up flood control dyke to check erosion and demanded their rehabilitation.
Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sanjida Yasmin said, "We have already distributed dry foods among 2,500 erosion victims. Besides, tins and cash taka will be distributed to more 350 victims soon."
Executive Engineer of District Water Development Board Md. Shafiqul Islam said, "We have already built half portion of the Sureshwar-WAPDA dyke to check erosion. We will complete the dyke soon."






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