Sylhet Bureau :
More than 50,000 people living along the banks of the Kushiyara River in Beanibazar upazila Sylhet district are living in constant fear.
Severe erosion has caused miles of roads to collapse into the river, and many structures-including homes, schools, mosques, madrasas, and graveyards-have already gone into the gorge of the river.
The embankment meant to safeguard the riverbanks is also under threat. Locals alleged that despite the ongoing erosion, no effective measures have been implemented to address the situation.
Beanibazar Upazila, located in the northeast of Sylhet district, is bordered to the north by Zakiganj, to the south by Baralekha, to the east by the Indian state of Assam, and to the west by Golapganj. It is approximately 52 km from Sylhet Sadar.
This riverine region is home to several rivers, including the Surma, Kushiyara, and Sonai. The Kushiyara River, which originates from the Barak River in Assam, flows through Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Golapganj, Fenchuganj, Balaganj, Rajnagar, Moulvibazar, Nabiganj, and Jagannathpur.
“Wherever the torrential Kushiara River flows, vast settlements have been lost,” locals lament. Despite various initiatives by the Water Development Board to protect the riverbanks, erosion remains a significant issue.
In the Angura Mohammadpur area, both banks of the Kushiyara River have suffered extensive erosion over the past few years. “Roads, homes, schools, mosques, madrasas, and graveyards have already been washed away.”
