Residents Demand Immediate Construction of Sustainable Embankments and Concrete Block Protection.
Md. Kabir Hossain:
The launch ghat in Ward No. 7 of Sachra Union under Borhanuddin Upazila in Bhola district, along with the adjacent areas on the bank of the Tetulia River, is facing severe riverbank erosion. The river is continuously devouring land due to its strong current, putting the homes and livelihoods of nearly 5,000 families living on and around the flood protection embankment at serious risk.
Local residents alleged that although the erosion has continued for a long time, no permanent protective measures have yet been implemented. They fear that the situation may worsen during the monsoon season, when the Tetulia River experiences stronger currents and the risk of tidal surges increases. If immediate action is not taken, not only Sachra Union but also wider parts of Borhanuddin Upazila could become increasingly vulnerable to river erosion.
A recent visit to the area revealed that many houses located along the riverbank are in a highly vulnerable condition. In several places, erosion has reached the very foundations of homes. Many families have been forced to take shelter on the embankment, living in constant fear that their last refuge could be washed away at any moment.
Speaking on the issue, Md. Mohiuddin Molla, Panel Chairman of Sachra Union Parishad, said:
“Nearly 5,000 families are living on and around the embankment near the launch ghat in Ward No. 7 of Sachra Union. Immediate construction of a durable embankment and installation of concrete blocks along the riverbank are essential. I urge the Bhola Water Development Board and the local Member of Parliament, Alhaj Hafez Ibrahim, to take prompt action to protect the area.”
Md. Zia Uddin Arif, Executive Engineer (Current Charge) of Bhola Water Development Division-1, said:
“Last week, we conducted an on-site inspection of the affected area. The matter is being treated with due importance, and work will begin there soon.”
.Local residents stressed that temporary measures would not be enough. They called for a long-term and sustainable river protection project, saying that without the immediate installation of concrete blocks and strengthening of the embankment, thousands of families could lose their homes and face a humanitarian crisis.
Protecting the people and property of Sachra Union through urgent and effective river erosion control measures has now become a pressing necessity.
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