Severe erosion along the Gorai River in Shailkupa, Jhenaidah, has sparked panic among residents of five villages as hundreds of bighas of agricultural land have been washed away over the past few years.
The erosion, which has affected villages under Sarutia and Dhalharachandra unions, has intensified during the current monsoon after new erosion points emerged at three locations along the riverbank.
A visit to the affected areas found that several hundred bighas of farmland in Bururia village under Sarutia union have already been swallowed by the river. The Water Development Board has placed geo-bags at some locations to slow down the erosion, but many families have already left their homes and moved to safer areas.
Fresh erosion has also started in Mazdia, Ulubaria, Bandekhali and Kashinathpur Ghat areas. Heavy rainfall and increased upstream water flow have raised the river level, creating strong currents along the banks.
Around 100 bighas of fertile land in different parts of Ulubaria village have already disappeared into the river. Residents who have lost their farmland are now living in fear of losing their homesteads.
“Our crop fields are going into the river. This erosion has been continuing for many years. If the authorities had taken measures earlier, the situation would not have reached this point. I urge the new government to take swift and effective steps to prevent further erosion,” said Hafizur Rahman, a farmer affected by the erosion.
Another farmer, Alam Khan, said he had no land left except his homestead.
“The Gorai River has swallowed everything. If our homestead is lost as well, where will we go?” he said.
Md Shahin Alam, a resident of Ulubaria village, said a large amount of land from Bururia and Ulubaria had shifted to the opposite bank due to river erosion over the past decade.
“The river has moved nearly half a kilometre towards the south because of continuous erosion. Many families have abandoned their homes and relocated out of fear,” he said.
Although geo-bags have been placed at limited locations, they have failed to stop the erosion, he added.
According to the Jhenaidah Water Development Board, erosion has affected around 5.5 kilometres of riverbank areas covering Bururia village under Sarutia union and Ulubaria, Mazdia, Bandekhali and Kashinathpur Ghat areas under Dhalharachandra union in Shailkupa.
The erosion is most severe at five specific points. Despite the placement of geo-bags in these areas for several years, around 600 acres of agricultural land have already been lost to the river.
Jhenaidah Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ranjan Kumar Das said erosion in the Gorai River had continued for more than a decade due to changes in the river’s course.
“A large amount of land from several villages in Shailkupa has gone into the riverbed because of the shifting course of the river,” he said.
He added that approval had been obtained for preparing a permanent project and conducting a feasibility study to prevent further erosion.
“The feasibility study is now at its final stage. We hope to begin construction of sustainable block embankments in the erosion-affected areas during the coming winter season,” he said.
