Gazi Gias Uddin Bashir :
My husband’s grave has also gone into the river. Now, even if a person dies, I have to worry about where to bury him. Maksuda Begum, 70, a resident of Sarai village in Kulkathi union of Nalchiti upazila of Jhalakathi, was wiping away tears as she spoke. The biggest pain in her life was not only losing her home, but her husband’s grave was also submerged in the river. So, after her death, they are now worried about where to bury their loved ones.
Maksuda Begum said that once their ancestral home was on the river bank. When it was lost in erosion, their sons built a new house a little further away. But that house was also not saved. All their last assets, land and trees, have gone into the Sugandha River. Now, they are living in a small house on someone else’s land. She alleges that despite such great losses, no one has come to look for them.
Hundreds of families in at least 10 villages of Jhalakathi’s Nalchiti upazila have been left destitute for years due to the terrible erosion of the Sugandha River. Every time the monsoon arrives, panic increases again. People living near the riverbanks calculate every day whether their houses will survive at least tonight.
According to locals, a vast area of ​​more than 10 villages including Barikaran, Sarai, Timirkathi, Darirchar, Khojakhali, Mallikpur, Sikderpara, Baharampur, Shatpakia, Kathipara, and Anurag has been submerged in the river. The most affected are Barikaran Sarai, Khojakhali, Darirchar, Timirkathi, and Sikderpara.
Rashid Molla, a resident of Sarai village, said that this erosion has been going on for about 50 years. But no effective initiative has been taken to permanently prevent erosion. During this time, hundreds of families have lost their homes, betel leaves, trees and assets worth crores of taka.
Hepi Begum’s house is now on the very edge of the river. She said, “Every day I feel like my house has gone into the river. I don’t know where to go with my children or what to do.”
Yusuf Hawlader of Kathipara village in Magar union said that there were 20 to 30 families in their area earlier. Now only two or three families are left. In his words, “We don’t want any help. Just stop the river erosion.”
Jamal Fakir of Sarai village said that his grandparents’ house is now in the middle of the Sugandha River. Even after building a new house with great difficulty, it is not safe. He said that despite years of erosion, no effective steps have been taken.
Retired Tehsildar Haji Abdul Haque Talukder said that where there were once numerous houses, now launches ply there. The river is slowly approaching his house. He is worried about whether he will be able to live in his house in the future.
UP member of Sarai village Bellal Hossain Mollah said that many of his relatives have lost the last trace of their grandparents’ houses due to river erosion. Although the Union Parishad has informed the Water Development Board about the matter several times, there has been no permanent solution yet.
In this regard, AKM Niloy Pasha, Executive Engineer of Jhalakathi Water Development Department, said that a development project is underway in the river erosion area of ​​Jhalakathi and Nalchiti. Ongoing. Preliminary surveys have also been completed in other erosion-prone areas. Necessary preventive measures will be taken once the project is approved.
The people of the riverbanks demand, not promise, they want effective river management quickly. Because in their words, “If you lose the soil, you can build a house again, but lost memories, ancestral graves and roots can never be found again.”
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