A madrasa and several villages in Manikganj’s Daulatpur Upazila are facing a grave threat from relentless erosion along the Jamuna River, which has already swallowed at least 30 to 40 homes over the past few days.
The river’s powerful currents and continuing erosion have put vast areas of Baghutia, Bachamara, Zionpur and Charkataree unions at severe risk. At least 150 more houses are now under threat, while many residents are dismantling their homes and moving them to safer places.
Among the structures facing the greatest danger is Charkalikapur Shukuria Dakhil Madrasa in Baghutia Union.
The soil in front of the madrasa’s four-storey building has already collapsed, while a section of its boundary wall has disappeared into the river. Local residents fear that the entire building could be swallowed by the Jamuna at any moment if the erosion continues.
Daulatpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nahiyan Nuren and Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Akhtaruzzaman have visited the erosion-hit areas.
After the administration declared the madrasa building unsafe, its chairs, tables, cupboards, educational materials and other valuable furniture began to be moved to a safer location.
During a visit on Thursday afternoon, the entire structure appeared extremely vulnerable as the soil beneath the building had been washed away. The situation has caused deep anxiety among teachers, students and parents.
“The building is no longer safe. The boundary wall and the land in front of it have already disappeared into the river,” said madrasa superintendent Maulana Baki Billah.
“Following instructions from the upazila administration, all valuable furniture is being moved to a safe place. The erosion is intensifying so rapidly that the entire building could be swallowed by the river at any time.”
He said the madrasa, established in 1981, has three separate buildings.
Md Ishtiaq Iqbal Himel, executive engineer of the District Education Engineering Department, who is serving in the role as an additional responsibility, said the newly constructed four-storey building was among the madrasa’s three structures.
“The four-storey building, constructed at a cost of Tk3.39 crore, is now threatened by erosion from the Jamuna River,” he said.
Officials concerned inspected the educational institution on Sunday, he added, saying the Water Development Board was working to protect it.
Local sources said Baghutia Omar Ali High School, Baghutia Old Market, numerous homesteads and vast stretches of cropland were also at risk.
“The intensity of the erosion has increased along with the rise in the river’s water level over the past few days,” said local resident Abdul Aziz. “Large sections of the riverbank are collapsing.”
Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Akhtaruzzaman said between 30 and 40 homes had been swallowed by the river over the past few days.
“At least 150 houses are facing erosion. Many residents are moving their homes elsewhere,” he said.
“The erosion-hit areas are being kept under round-the-clock observation. Geo-bags are being placed on an emergency basis in the Charkalikapur area.”
He, however, acknowledged that the madrasa and several nearby houses remained at extreme risk.
