Padma erosion intensifies in Chapainawabganj

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Oct 9: The erosion caused by the Padma River has intensified in the district in recent times.

In vast areas of Narayanpur Union under Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila, and Paka, Uzirpur and Durlavpur unions under Shibganj Upazila, the river and its erosion line have moved several kilometres inland over the years.

Homesteads are disappearing. Farmland is being swallowed, and the Padma continues to reshape the landscape.

Following the recent flooding, local sources say at least 800 families have lost their homesteads to river erosion in areas including Narayanpur, Durlavpur, Namo Jagannathpur, Field-er-Haat, Kanchhira, Joglauri and Jhailpara.

Many of those who once had homes now have no choice but to seek shelter on other people’s land.

According to field sources, the erosion is also destroying agricultural land�"the foundation of local livelihoods.

Fields that once produced rice, wheat, mustard and maize are now being replaced by vast stretches of sand.

Local representatives say the course of the Padma River and the physical landscape along its banks have changed significantly in recent years.

The emergence of new channels and branches of the river has also dramatically altered the distance between the two banks in some areas.

Abdul Malek Mondal, Chairman of Paka Union Parishad, says the maps of four unions have virtually been redrawn by the river.

According to him, after the floodwaters recede, there is potential for cultivating wheat, mustard and maize on nearly 4,000 acres of land.

But farmers who have lost almost everything to floods and erosion do not have enough money to resume cultivation.

He has therefore called for urgent government assistance, particularly the supply of seeds to affected farmers.

According to the chairman, erosion has intensified in recent days in Nishipara, Dakshin Paka, 20 Rashia, Jackpara and Dobhagi of Paka Union, as well as in nearby Monoharpur and Field-er-Haat.

He claims that around 500 families have already lost their homesteads in Paka and surrounding areas.

In the Field-er-Haat area, the homes of Dulal, Rozbul, Mannan, Rafiq, Salam, Ziaul, Babar and many others have already been swallowed by the river.

The stories of local residents Mahbub Alam and Mosharraf Hossain reflect years of frustration, uncertainty and helplessness.

They are calling for immediate construction of riverbank protection embankments to stop further erosion.

They say a project has already been taken up for the construction of protective infrastructure.

When contacted, Rakibul Islam, Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Chapainawabganj, says 23 contractors have been appointed to implement riverbank protection works.

A plan is in place to implement riverbank protection and embankment construction projects at an estimated cost of around Tk 3 billion.
Under the plan, 16 projects will cover approximately 1,940 metres of protection work along the left bank, while seven projects will cover approximately 3.90 kilometres along the right bank, he said.