NALITABARI, SHERPUR, Apr 28: Residents of riverbank areas in Nalitabari and Nakla upazilas of Sherpur are living in fear of losing their houses and land due to continuous erosion by the fast-flowing Bhogai River, which originates from upstream hills.
Local people said they live peacefully during the dry season, but the monsoon brings constant anxiety as sudden flash floods and strong currents from the hills threaten to wash away homes and livelihoods at any moment. For years, residents have been living under the threat of displacement, but no permanent solution has yet been implemented.
Villages such as Benirgop and surrounding areas are among the worst affected. Locals said illegal and unplanned sand extraction from the Bhangai River, along with increased water flow during the monsoon, has intensified erosion in the area.
As a result, houses, agricultural land, trees, and other property are being lost to the river every year. In recent years, several acres of farmland, a family graveyard, a mosque, shops and homesteads have already been eroded into the river. Many families have been displaced.
Residents alleged that despite years of erosion, no effective measures have been taken by the responsible authorities to protect the riverbanks or construct a permanent embankment. They said at least 500 metres of riverbank has already been lost over the past few years.
Locals including Abdul Wadud and Habibur Rahman said their ancestral homes are gradually disappearing into the river. They demanded immediate construction of a permanent embankment to prevent further losses.
They also urged urgent intervention from the Water Development Board (WDB) and local Member of Parliament to address the crisis, warning that without immediate action, more areas will be swallowed by the river in the upcoming monsoon.
Sources said that in the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Upazila Project Implementation Office provided 5.5 tonnes of GR rice for emergency work, under which some palisading and geo-bag installation was carried out, but the work remains incomplete.
Nakla Upazila Project Implementation Officer Anwar Hossain Shamim said limited emergency measures were taken due to inadequate allocation, though permanent embankment construction is possible through his office.
Local Union Parishad Chairman Nure Alam Talukder Bhutto said he has informed higher authorities about the situation and urged immediate action.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jahangir Alam said the erosion-hit areas have been inspected and the Water Development Board has been informed. He also said the issue has been raised at district coordination meetings, stressing the need for a sustainable project to address the crisis.
Meanwhile, Sherpur-2 MP Engineer Fahim Chowdhury has raised the demand for a permanent embankment in the affected areas in Parliament.
