Intense erosion by Sandhya River has put Amrajuri ferry ghat, the only road–ferry link between Shorupkathi and Kawkhali upazilas of Pirojpur, on the brink of collapse.
The incident swept away shops, mosques and homesteads and leaving residents devastated.
Local people say the sudden expansion of the erosion over the past weeks has created panic along both banks, where at least 200 business establishments, houses, religious structures and public facilities now stand dangerously close to falling into the river.
The ghat, located at the confluence of the Sandhya, Gabkhan and Kacha rivers, serves as a critical transport route for hundreds of thousands of commuters travelling to and from Pirojpur town. With the ground beneath it disappearing rapidly, residents fear being cut off entirely.
Locals expressed frustration over the Water Development Board’s (WDB) temporary embankment measures, saying the work has failed to halt the erosion despite more than Tk1.5 crore being spent in the past two years. They are demanding an immediate, sustainable embankment to protect the area.
Resident Khan Belayet Hossain said both Ashoa and Amrajuri villages are losing land every day.
“Hundreds of shops and two mosques have already gone into the river. The piling by WDB is nothing but a waste of public money. It cannot stop this kind of erosion,” he said, urging the authorities to construct a permanent embankment without delay.
Pirojpur Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Tanvir Ahmed said ferry operations are frequently disrupted due to pontoon damage caused by erosion, increasing passenger suffering.
“We have requested WDB to take necessary protection measures,” he said.
WDB’s Sub-Divisional Engineer Abu Zafar Md Rashed Khan said a feasibility study is under way for a 1,500-metre permanent embankment on both sides of the ghat.
“Once the report is completed, further action will be taken. For now, emergency protection work worth Tk47 lakh is in progress and is expected to be completed within three months,” he said.
