Padma erosion intensifies at Bagha

BAGHA, RAJSHAHI, Oct 4: Riverbank erosion has intensified along the Padma in Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi as the water level recedes, putting 20-25 houses and Chakrajapur High School at risk.

The erosion is particularly severe in the Kalidaskhali area south of the school in Chakrajapur Union. Residents of Kalidaskhali and Lakshminagar chars in Wards 4 and 5 have started moving their homes to safer places.

Shahidul Islam, a former member of Ward 5, said the Padma began receding about a week ago and erosion started soon afterwards.

“Most of the land affected this time had mango and mahogany trees and homes,” he said.

The ward has 1,262 voters and more than 400 families. More than 150 families have already moved elsewhere due to river erosion, he added.

Golam Mostafa, a resident of Kalidaskhali Char and assistant headteacher of Chakrajapur High School, said many homes and mango orchards had disappeared into the river within a week.

“Many people are still at risk. If erosion continues at this rate, there may soon be no trace of Kalidaskhali and Laxminagar,” he said.

Fazlul Haque, a former member of Ward 4, said two-thirds of the ward had already been lost to the Padma.

“Chakrajapur itself is disappearing. If the current rate of erosion continues, the rest of the ward may also disappear soon,” he said.

Anwar Shikdar, a former member of Ward 6, said nearly 30 bighas of his land had been washed away.

“More than 300 families from the ward have moved elsewhere over the past two years,” he said.

Ali Hossain and Ali Fakir, residents of Kalidaskhali Char, said the land where their homes stood had also been lost to erosion.

“We have leased land from others and built houses there,” they said.

Azizul Azam, former chairman of Chakrajapur Union, said people suffer losses every year due to river erosion.

“We have informed the upazila administration about the latest erosion,” he said.