LALMOHAN, BHOLA, June 14: Residents of a government housing area in Lalmohan Upazila are living in constant fear as an unprotected and damaged embankment along the Tentulia River continues to erode, with authorities yet to take any effective steps to build a sustainable solution.
Locals say nearly two kilometres of the embankment in the Gaimara area of Ward No. 3 under Farajganj Union has gradually been washed away by river waves and tidal surges. In several points, no trace of the embankment remains, allowing tidal water to rush into the locality during high tide.
As a result, around 140 families living in the Karatoya housing project are facing severe hardship. Residents said even a slight rise in tidal water causes flooding, leaving them stranded inside their homes.
During the monsoon season, they fear the situation will worsen further as river water may enter the settlement more frequently, worsening their suffering.
Locals alleged that the concerned authorities have failed to take any permanent measures to protect the embankment, despite repeated damage over the years.
“We are living in extreme hardship inside the housing area. Rainwater leaks through damaged roofs, and now tidal water is entering due to the broken embankment,” said residents Monir, Surma and Asma Begum.
They said life becomes particularly difficult during the rainy season, when tidal surges flood the entire area, forcing families to remain confined to their homes.
“We want urgent steps from the authorities to construct a durable embankment,” they added.
Residents also alleged that every year temporary embankments and geo-bags are installed at a cost of crores of taka during the monsoon season, but these structures are washed away before the end of the rainy season.
They claimed such measures are not sustainable and accused some officials of mismanagement in the name of repeated repairs.
Attempts to contact officials at the Lalmohan sub-divisional office of the Water Development Board (WDB) were unsuccessful, as sources said officials usually operate from the Char Fasson executive engineer’s office.
Bhola WDB-2 Executive Engineer Md Asfauad Daula said a field visit to the damaged embankment would be conducted soon.
“We will inspect the affected embankment along the Tentulia River and take necessary steps very soon,” he said.
Local residents, however, continue to demand immediate and permanent protection measures to safeguard their homes from ongoing tidal threats.
