Post-flood erosion renders many homeless in 10 Faridpur villages

With the recession of floodwater, erosion on the banks of Madhumati River has taken a serious turn in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur district, causing further concern among the flood-hit people of the upazila, UNB reports.

People of 10 villages under four unions in the upazila have been passing days amid tension as 500-meter road, some dwelling houses and crops land have already went into the gorge of the river .

Sultan Mahmud, executive magistrate of Water Development Board, said already a road, some dwelling houses, crops land and a mosque in Tagarband, Gopalpur, Buraich and Pachuria union of the upazila have been washed away due to erosion while Bazra, Char Azampur, Chapulia, Chardhanair, Shakipara villages in the upazila are under threat of erosion.

During a recent visit to the erosion-hit areas, the UNB correspondent found 10 villages including Bazra, Char Azampur, Chapulia, Chardhanair, Shakipara and Bashtala are under threat of erosion.

A letter seeking approval for a project for building an embankment has been sent to the high officials concerned to prevent the erosion, he said.

Some villagers of Tagarband union and Pachuria union, said they believe only a flood control embankment will protect their homes from river erosion.

Obaidur Rahman, a UP member of Bazra village, said, “The river is only a few yards away from my house and this year I will lose it. As many as, 25 families in my area have left their houses and taken shelter to safer places due to the erosion while others are trying to shift their houses to other places.”

Imam Hasan Shipon, chairman of Tagarband Union, said 10 kgs of rice per head have been distributed among the flood-affected people while they are trying to check erosion by dumping GO bags.

AKM Zahidul Hasan, chairman of Alfadanga Upazila Parishad, said work to prepare a list of the erosion-hit people is underway and they will provide government assistance after making the list.

Manzur Hossain, MP of Faridpur-1 constituency, said GO bags have been placed to protect the river bank areas and the Water Development Board has sent a proposal for building a dam there.