Meghna devours homes, shops, graves in Chandpur

Severe erosion by the Meghna River has taken a serious turn in Eshanbala area of Nilkamal Union in Haimechar upazila of Chandpur, leaving riverside residents living in fear of losing their homes and livelihoods.

Continuous erosion has already swallowed houses, shops, croplands and cemeteries, forcing many families to relocate their homesteads several times.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is attempting to contain the erosion by dumping geo-bags along vulnerable sections of the riverbank.

On October 3, a BWDB team led by Executive Engineer Mosanna Galib visited the erosion-hit areas of Eshanbala and spoke to affected residents.

Bilquis Akter, a local resident, said the river was far from her home when she got married 15 years ago. “Now the river is very close. We have to live with the fear of erosion. Even where we will bury our dead has become a concern,” she said, adding that many graves have already been washed away by the Meghna.

Locals said sand-filled bags are often dumped along the riverbank on an emergency basis when erosion intensifies, but the temporary measures do not last long. Md Mizanur Rahman, a resident of Eshanbala, said the bags eventually disappear into the river and called for a permanent solution to protect Nilkamal.

Acting chairman of Nilkamal Union Parishad Md Monir Shikder also stressed the need for permanent riverbank protection. He said thousands of people had already lost their homesteads to the Meghna's erosion and questioned how long the temporary measures would withstand the river current.

Cemeteries have become another major concern for residents. While houses can be moved to safer locations, graves cannot easily be relocated. Rahima Begum said many graves had already disappeared into the Meghna, leaving families worried about where they would bury their loved ones in the future.

Executive Engineer Mosanna Galib said the BWDB was working to protect homesteads, mosques and land in the erosion-prone area by placing geo-bags as an immediate measure.

He said 13,000 sand-filled bags would be placed under two packages in Eshanbala, with work already underway along around 90 metres of riverbank.

A proposal has also been submitted to protect 2,100 metres of riverbank in Eshanbala and another 1,150 metres near Alur Bazar Ferry Ghat in Ibrahimpur Union of Chandpur Sadar upazila. The proposed project would permanently protect a total of 3,250 metres of riverbank.

The project includes construction of permanent protection blocks and has a proposed cost of Tk 237 crore. However, it is still at the proposal stage, and there is no confirmed date for implementation.

As erosion continues, residents fear the situation could worsen before the permanent project is implemented.

-EM/SA