Meghna riverbank collapse sparks alarm in Bhairab
Alam Sarowar Tito, Kishoreganj :
The Meghna River erosion in the Baganbari area of Bhairab Bazar has taken a severe turn, endangering the town’s commercial center, two railway bridges, and a road bridge.
The erosion, which began on Monday night, has already swallowed around 200 meters of the riverbank within three days, with 50 meters collapsing by Wednesday morning.
Local residents and business owners have expressed their frustration over the lack of visible government action to prevent further damage.
Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Shabnam Sharmin, Water Development Board (WDB) Executive Engineer Md. Sazzat Hossain, and members of the Bangladesh Army inspected the affected area on Tuesday. A dredger was seized from the site as part of the ongoing investigation into the causes of erosion.
The Bhairab Chamber of Commerce & Industry described the Meghna River as both a blessing and a threat to Bhairab. “Bhairab’s economic prosperity is largely due to this river, yet it is also our greatest fear.
Despite years of discussions, no permanent solution has been implemented to protect the town from erosion,” said a Chamber representative. Business leaders are now demanding an effective town protection embankment.
On Wednesday morning, Chamber leaders visited the erosion site and observed that a rail dock was being constructed near the riverbank. A rail dock is a system used to lift trawlers or boats ashore for repairs.
The riverbank had been cut to make way for the dock, triggering erosion in the area. A large trawler under construction near the eroded site had to be removed for fear of being swept away.
The erosion site is just 300 meters away from Bhairab’s main commercial hub, including the launch terminal, multi-storey buildings, and essential trade centers. At one end, two railway bridges on the Dhaka-Chattogram route and a road bridge on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway are also at risk.
This is not the first time Bhairab has faced severe erosion. On September 7 last year, erosion in the Depot Ghat area at the Meghna estuary threatened BNDC’s Sargudam and oil depots of Jamuna, Meghna, and Padma.
That incident caused 230 meters of land, two shops, and 13 houses to be submerged in the river. The erosion was temporarily controlled by laying geo bags, but a permanent solution was never implemented.
Now, after a four-and-a-half-month gap, erosion has returned with renewed intensity.
WDB Executive Engineer Md. Sajjad Hossain and Sub-Divisional Engineer Atiqul Gani visited the site on Tuesday. Hossain noted that unregulated riverbank cutting for railway dock construction and dredging activities might have triggered erosion even during the dry season.
“We are discussing the situation with senior officials and are considering laying geo bags as an immediate measure,” he said.
Bhairab UNO Shabnam Sharmin stated, “Unauthorized construction of railway docks and trawlers has surfaced as a key issue in the erosion.
If the investigation confirms this, legal action will be taken against those responsible.” She also assured that discussions with relevant departments are ongoing to take preventive and remedial measures.
With Bhairab’s economic infrastructure and vital transportation links at serious risk, residents and business owners are urging the government to implement a long-term erosion control plan. Until then, temporary measures like geo bag placement may only provide short-term relief, leaving the town vulnerable to further devastation.