River erosion, flood deepen woes at Jhenaigati 

JHENAIGATI, SHERPUR, July 26: Residents of Jhenaigati Upazila in Sherpur have demanded immediate dredging of the Maharshi River and construction of permanent embankments along its banks, saying recurring floods and river erosion have displaced at least 500 families over the past decade.

They said annual flooding, triggered by heavy monsoon rainfall and hill runoff from India's Meghalaya state, has continued to erode riverbanks, destroy homes and farmland, and damage roads, markets and educational institutions. Locals urged the government to implement a long-term solution through river dredging, durable embankments and improved water management.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Maharshi River originates in the West and South Garo Hills of Meghalaya and enters Bangladesh through the Garo Kona border area of Jhenaigati before joining the Malijhi River at Paglarmukh. The river, identified by the BWDB as River No. 68, is around 17 kilometres long with an average width of 57 metres.

Residents said erosion occurs every monsoon at several points along the river, particularly in Nalkura and Jhenaigati Sadar unions. They said embankments on both banks collapsed during heavy rainfall and upstream flooding in October 2024 and again in September 2025, inundating large areas.

The floods washed away houses, cropland and ponds while partially damaging markets, schools and other public infrastructure, causing widespread hardship, they said.

Seeking a permanent solution, local voluntary organisation Voice of Jhenaigati organised a signature campaign on October 16 last year demanding durable embankments on both sides of the river. A memorandum signed by 3,273 people, including elected representatives, teachers, students, journalists, businesspeople, rights activists and other residents, was later submitted to the adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources through the then deputy commissioner.

According to BWDB officials, the memorandum was forwarded to the ministry's senior secretary before being sent to the BWDB director general for necessary action.

The BWDB has since prepared a proposal worth about Tk 48.64 crore for repairing and rehabilitating flood-control embankments and dredging the river.

Under the proposal, around Tk 22.29 crore has been allocated for repairing and rehabilitating 24 kilometres of embankments, while Tk 26.35 crore has been earmarked for dredging 17 kilometres of the Maharshi River.

A technical committee formed by the BWDB director general visited erosion-hit areas in Jhenaigati on January 15 this year. Following the inspection, recommendations were submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources, highlighting the need for permanent embankments and river dredging. The board's development wing later recommended taking necessary steps to implement the project.

Khailkura businessman Md Binamin said his poultry farm and house were washed away within minutes during the October 2024 floods, causing losses of around Tk 30 lakh.

"I have not been able to restart my business because I do not have the capital. I hope no one else has to suffer the same fate," he said.

Jhenaigati Bonik Samabay Samity President Md Mokhlesur Rahman Khan said embankment breaches every year inundate Jhenaigati Sadar Bazar and nearby areas, causing extensive damage to people's lives and livelihoods.

"There is no alternative to constructing permanent embankments and dredging the river if we want to prevent future disasters," he said.

BWDB Executive Engineer (acting) Sudipta Chowdhury said design work for the proposed embankment rehabilitation and river dredging project is underway.

"Once the design is completed, it will be sent to the relevant authorities. If the project receives approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), implementation will begin," he said.

Sherpur-3 lawmaker Md Mahmudul Haque Rubel said he had raised the issue in parliament on several occasions and expressed hope that the project would receive approval soon, bringing long-awaited relief to thousands of people living along the Maharshi River.