Human chain demands permanent solution to water-logging at Beel Dakatiya

DUMURIA, KHULNA, July 26: Hundreds of residents formed a human chain in Dumuria Upazila on Saturday, demanding the dredging of the Hamkura-Bhadra river system and the implementation of Tidal River Management (TRM) to permanently resolve chronic water-logging in Beel Dakatia and surrounding areas.

The programme, organised by the Dumuria Upazila Water Committee, was held on the historic Hamkura Bridge.

Speakers said thousands of acres of farmland and homesteads remain submerged for much of the year because heavy siltation has reduced the navigability of the Hamkura and Bhadra rivers, blocking natural drainage and disrupting the livelihoods of local residents.

They called on the government to immediately dredge the rivers using scientific methods and introduce TRM in Beel Shinga, Madhugram and Madhabkati to restore natural tidal flow.

Sheikh Selim Akter Swapan, General Secretary of the Dumuria Upazila Water Committee, said the region would continue to suffer unless the rivers were dredged and TRM was introduced.

Former union parishad chairman Prof GM Amanullah said dredging alone would not provide a lasting solution without proper sediment management through TRM.

Social worker Shahjahan Jowaddar said prolonged waterlogging had severely affected agriculture, businesses and brickfields, threatening the local economy.

Mir Zillur Rahman, general secretary of the Tala Water Committee and a representative of development organisation Uttaran, described TRM as the only sustainable solution to chronic waterlogging in the southwest.

Participants urged the Ministry of Water Resources and the Bangladesh Water Development Board to take immediate action.

They warned that if the government failed to implement the project, they would launch tougher protest programmes, including road blockades.