Thousands of acres of farmland and homesteads in Lohagara Upazila of Narail remain at risk of annual flooding as a long-delayed embankment project on the Madhumati River has failed to reach completion even after seven years.
Local residents across four unions say repeated flooding during the monsoon season has caused severe damage to crops and housing, affecting thousands of families who have been living under constant threat of river erosion and water intrusion.
According to information from the district administration and the Water Development Board (WDB), decades of river erosion have already washed away paved roads along the Madhumati riverbank. As a result, floodwaters now regularly inundate at least 6,000 acres of agricultural land, while homes in nearby villages are also frequently damaged.
To address the situation, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a 3.1-kilometre embankment project in 2019, stretching from Kotakol in Lohagara Upazila to Ghaga Chairman’s house in Dhaliatola. The project, estimated at Tk 342 crore, was intended to provide long-term protection for the vulnerable river basin.
Following local objections and a court injunction, physical work on the project only began in 2023. Although the project deadline was set for June 2025, it has already been extended twice. Despite this, progress on the ground remains limited, with only partial excavation work visible in some sections.
Officials say land acquisition has also been a major obstacle. Out of 161 affected landowners, only 24 have so far received compensation.
The contract for construction work, awarded to M/S SA UB JB Construction, is valued at Tk 5.95 crore.
Local people from around 15 villages under four unions have demanded the immediate completion of the embankment, warning that continued delays are worsening their economic hardship and insecurity.
However, some affected families have said they will not allow construction to proceed until they receive full compensation for their land.
Project contractor manager Md Milon Ali said work had been hampered by administrative and land-related complications.
“We are facing difficulties as the Water Development Board has not fully handed over the land. Locals are also obstructing work, saying they will not allow construction without compensation. Under these circumstances, we can only work in limited sections,” he said, adding that full access would allow faster completion.
Executive Engineer of the Narail WDB, Abhijit Kumar Saha, said the project faced major delays due to legal complications.
“Although the project was approved in 2019, a court injunction stalled progress until 2022. Work resumed in 2023, but local resistance and land disputes are still affecting implementation. Even marked land boundaries are being removed in some cases,” he said, expressing hope that the project would be completed once disputes are resolved.
Narail Deputy Commissioner’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Hosne Ara Tanni said compensation distribution was ongoing.
“The Water Development Board has been instructed multiple times to demarcate the land. So far, 24 affected individuals have received compensation after verification. The remaining cases are being processed gradually,” she added.
