Padma erosion worsens in Kushtia, MP inspects affected areas

Severe erosion caused by the rising Padma River has washed away more than a hundred acres of agricultural land in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia, leaving thousands of riverside residents in fear of losing their homes. BNP lawmaker Reza Ahmed Bachchu Molla visited the erosion-hit areas on Saturday and called for immediate measures to prevent further damage.

Continuous rainfall and upstream water flow have caused the water levels of the Padma and two other major rivers in the area to rise. The increased water pressure has triggered intense erosion along several riverbank areas, including Majdiar, Koldiar, Faizullahpur and Hatkholapara under Maricha Union of Daulatpur.

Local residents said the Padma’s aggressive erosion has destroyed farmland over the past 15 to 20 days, causing huge losses for hundreds of farmers. Seasonal crops, including jute, have been washed away, leaving farmers facing severe financial losses.

They added that water levels have also risen in the Mathabhanga and Hisna rivers, but the Padma has taken the most devastating form. With erosion continuing at an alarming rate, riverside communities are now worried about losing their houses and homesteads.

On Saturday morning, Reza Ahmed Bachchu Molla, lawmaker from Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur) constituency, visited the affected locations and spoke with flood-affected and worried residents.

During the visit, the MP contacted officials of the concerned ministries over the phone and instructed authorities to immediately dump more geo-bags filled with sand in vulnerable areas to control erosion. He also demanded additional emergency allocation for protective measures.

Bachchu Molla said temporary measures were not enough and stressed the need for sustainable river management to permanently protect the areas from erosion. He assured residents that he would raise the issue with the higher authorities and work to secure additional funds for permanent embankment construction.

Local BNP leaders, including Daulatpur Upazila BNP Secretary Billal Hossain, Daulatpur Press Club President Md Saiful Islam Shaheen, Secretary Ahmed Raju and former chairman Md Saidur Rahman, were present during the inspection.

Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of Kushtia Water Development Board Rashedur Islam said some areas experienced erosion due to rising water levels. He added that the Water Development Board was working to control the situation and the process of placing geo-bags filled with sand was continuing according to the assessment.

-SI/HIS