The Jamuna has washed away homes, farmland and livelihoods in parts of Sirajganj’s Shahjadpur upazila, leaving hundreds of families struggling to find shelter as they watch their ancestral land disappear into the river.
More than 200 houses in Kurshi and Dhitpur villages under Sonatoni Union have been destroyed by severe erosion over the past two weeks. Many displaced families are now living in damaged houses, under polythene sheets or inside makeshift shelters covered with fishing nets.
Demanding immediate measures to prevent further erosion, including the dumping of sand-filled bags and geo-tubes, local residents held a human chain and protest rally on the bank of the Jamuna at Kurshi Bazar on Thursday afternoon.
Speakers at the rally said erosion has intensified since the beginning of the monsoon, affecting Sripur, Dhitpur, Kurshi and Barpakhia villages of Sonatoni Union, as well as Mohanpur and Hatkora areas of neighbouring Gala Union.
Over the past three months, around 2,000 bighas of farmland and hundreds of homes have been lost to the river, according to locals. They said the erosion is so rapid that many families cannot even remove their belongings before their houses collapse into the Jamuna.
Two mosques and madrasas, two primary schools, one office building, more than 200 homes and numerous trees have already disappeared into the river, residents claimed.
The affected farmland once produced rice, jute, mustard, maize, wheat, groundnut, sesame, millet and vegetables. Farmers who lost their land are now facing severe financial hardship.
The erosion has also disrupted local trade. The Dhitpur-Kurshi cattle market has been washed away, making it difficult for residents to sell agricultural goods and livestock.
Electricity services have been disrupted in the affected areas, affecting hundreds of students. Many families are now spending nights beside their cattle on makeshift beds, fearing theft.
Hajera Begum of Dhitpur village said she was forced to leave her parents’ house after it too came under threat from erosion. She now lives with her young daughter in an abandoned, damaged house where one side is covered with fishing nets.
“The bamboo fencing has rotted and collapsed, and the roof is also damaged. But we have nowhere else to go,” she said.
Kurshi resident Kobir Hossain said he lost eight bighas of farmland to the Jamuna.
“I used to support my family by cultivating rice, maize, mustard and vegetables. Now I have lost everything,” he said, adding that around 60 bighas of land belonging to his extended family had also been swallowed by the river.
Achia Begum of Dhitpur said she was living under a polythene sheet after losing her home.
“Everything gets wet when it rains. I do not know where we will go,” she said.
Khaleq Mia said he had rented land in neighbouring Sripur village for Tk5,000 a year after losing his home to the river.
Residents have demanded urgent intervention, including dumping sand-filled bags and geo-tubes at vulnerable points to slow down the erosion.
Local residents Kabil Uddin, Ali Asgar and Jinnah Mondol alleged that the situation worsened due to the lack of timely measures by the Water Development Board.
Shahjadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabrina Sarmin said the affected areas had been inspected and the situation had been reported to higher authorities.
“The Water Development Board has been requested to take necessary measures to prevent erosion. Relief supplies, including rice and dry food, have been distributed among affected families, and steps are being taken for their rehabilitation,” she said.
However, Sirajganj Water Development Board Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman said Sonatoni Union is located in the Jamuna char area and there is currently no ongoing project of the board there.
“If a new project is approved, work will be undertaken in the area,” he said.
Residents fear that without immediate action, many more families will lose their homes and farmland and become permanently displaced.
