Hundreds become homeless by erosion in Mirzapur

Mirzapur (Tangail) Correspondent :

In Mirzapur of Tangail, hundreds of families affected by the severe erosion of Bangsai-Louhajong River have become homeless and are living an inhumane life in extreme misery. About eight km embankment along the Bandarmara-Patharghata is now under threat. The victims’ families have complained that the level of destruction around Bangsai-Louhajong River is increasing day by day. Due to extensive damage to crops, houses, plants, markets, mosques, temples and educational institutions, the helpless families are in dire straits.
On Wednesday, the victim residents complained that Ward No. 4 Garail and Pushtakamuri Purbpara, Ward No. 5 Kumarjani and Bawar Kumarjani, Ward No. 2 Pushtakamuri Paschimpara of Banshai River Mirzapur municipality are under threat. More than two hundred families of these three wards are homeless and living inhuman life. Bandramara-Patharghata is 8 km in the sharp break of Bangsai River.
They complained that the embankment was under threat. Some areas can be flooded at any time. The same situation has occurred in various areas of Fatepur Union including Fatepur, Tholpara, Hilda Adabari, Pardighi, Chaklesh, Bailanpur, Gogail, Garail. Crop lands, houses, educational institutions, mosques-temples, haat jahars and roads have been extensively damaged in these areas. As a result, various facilities are under threat. The direct communication of Basail Upazila with Mirzapur Upazila has been lost due to the collapse of the river.
The executive engineer of Water Development Board Tangail Sajjat Hossain said that sand-filled of geobags have been started in several areas in Mirzapur to prevent river erosion. A project has been prepared and sent to the Ministry for the construction of permanent dams in the highly damaged areas including the municipality of Bangsai-Louhajong River.
Fatepur high school, madrasa and mosque are in the threat of severe river erosion. Many institutions including Hat Fatepur Government Primary School, Fatepur Union Parishad, Health Sub-centre, Union Bhumi Office, Mirzapur-Basail road, Fatepur-Mahera-Mirzapur road and Hat Fatepur haat and market are now under threat. Apart from this, hundreds of families of Fatepur Palpara area have lost their land due to river erosion and are living inhuman life under the open sky. Local residents said that 10-12 villages of this union are now disappearing from the map of Mirzapur.
On the other hand, the same situation has occurred in the Laujong River. Several victims complained that many families have been left stranded due to river collapse in various areas including Majalia, Guntia, Chukuria, Barati, Ichail, Sarutia, Pushtakamuri, Deohata, Court Bahuria, Bahuria, Kamarpara, Nagarpara of Lauhjong river. Damages are educational institutions, bridges, culverts, roads, market and agricultural land. Local residents said that 7-8 paved bridges are under threat.
Municipal Mayor Salma Akhtar Shimul said that several hundred families of wards 2, 4 and 5 of the municipality have become homeless due to river erosion. The MP has requested the water development board and the administration for their full cooperation.
In this regard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Nurul Alam said, there has been a breach around Bangsai-Louhajong River. Water Development Board officials visited the breached area. Geobags have been started in different areas.