Hundreds face sleepless nights as Jamuna erosion worsens in Bogura

BOGURA, July 8: Hundreds of people in two upazilas of Bogura are spending sleepless nights as severe erosion by the Jamuna River continues to devour farmland and threaten homes, with residents blaming indiscriminate sand extraction for worsening the situation.

The worst-hit areas are Bhandarbari Union in Dhunat Upazila and Kajla Union in Sariakandi Upazila, particularly Char Ghaghua Village, where the erosion has intensified over the past few days.

According to local officials of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), around 900 metres of riverbank and cropland in Char Ghaghua had already been washed away by Tuesday. Another 200 metres collapsed on Wednesday, taking the total extent of erosion there to about 1,100 metres.
BWDB officials said Char Ghaghua is currently the most vulnerable erosion hotspot in Sariakandi.

Residents alleged that widespread sand extraction from different parts of the Jamuna has accelerated the erosion. They claimed that sand is being lifted openly during the day using shallow machines, despite the growing risks to nearby settlements.

In Dhunat, erosion has also intensified in the stretch between the Shohrabari and Baniajan spurs. According to BWDB officials, around 200 metres of land had already disappeared into the river by Sunday.

The authorities said emergency erosion control work is underway around the clock using sand-filled geobags and geo-tubes to protect the riverbank.

People living along the right bank of the Jamuna said they are living in constant fear as the erosion continues. They alleged that unplanned sand extraction is the main reason behind the riverbank collapse.

On Sunday afternoon, lawmaker Golam Mohammad Siraj, who represents Bogura-5, visited the affected areas and instructed BWDB officials to expedite protection work. He also said he would discuss implementation of a long-term erosion control project with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Local sources said the latest spell of erosion began in October last year, when nine shops at Shohrabari Ghat and large areas of cropland were swallowed by the river. Although the BWDB later carried out protection work by placing geo-bags and geo-tubes, erosion resumed about 12 days ago.
Residents of Bhandarbari Union said the Jamuna has repeatedly washed away homes, farmland, roads and other infrastructure over the years.

Several settlements, including Boishakhi Char, Radhanagar, Bathuarbhita, New Sariakandi, Atarchar, Pukuria, Bhutbari and Koyagari, have already disappeared into the river over the years due to relentless erosion.

Thousands of people who lost their homes and agricultural land have taken shelter on flood control embankments. Most of the affected families depend on fishing during the monsoon and cultivate crops on the river's emerging sandbars in the dry season for their livelihoods.

Locals further alleged that a government-approved sand quarry operating between the Shohrabari spurs has been extracting sand from areas close to the river's right bank instead of the designated site, triggering fresh erosion.

Humayun Kabir, sub-divisional engineer of the BWDB, said about 200 metres of riverbank had already been lost in Dhunat.
"The entire 1,800-metre stretch between the Shohrabari and Baniajan spurs is now vulnerable. Protection work must cover the whole section; otherwise, both spurs and the flood control embankment will remain at risk," he said.