Riverbank panic grips Sirajganj

A section of the right-bank protection embankment at Bahuka in Sirajganj Sadar upazila collapsed into the Jamuna River on last Saturday afternoon after intense scouring beneath the riverbed weakened its foundation, raising fears of further erosion and possible flooding among local residents.

According to local sources, around 30 metres of the embankment gave way as strong currents eroded the riverbed underneath, causing a large portion of the protective structure to sink into the river.

The incident has heightened anxiety among people living in Bahuka and nearby villages, many of whom have already endured repeated losses of homes and agricultural land due to river erosion over the years.

Although officials of the Water Development Board (WDB) in Sirajganj said emergency protection measures have been initiated, residents alleged that the damage could have been mitigated had preventive action been taken earlier despite repeated warnings from locals.

Villagers also expressed concern over the apparent lack of regular bathymetric and hydrographic surveys of the riverbed. They argued that timely surveys could have helped authorities assess the condition of the river channel and take necessary protective measures before the embankment was damaged.

Md Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Engineer of the WDB in Sirajganj, said a substantial amount of soil had been washed away from the riverbed due to severe scouring.

“A bulk portion of soil has been removed from the riverbed due to huge scouring of water that leads to the erosion from beneath the embankment,” he told The New Nation.

He said the WDB, with assistance from local residents, had already begun placing geo-textile sandbags at the affected site in an effort to protect the remaining sections of the embankment.

“We, with the help of locals, have started dumping sand sacks with geo-textile at the affected portion to protect the rest of the area,” he added.

For many residents, however, the collapse has revived painful memories of past erosion disasters.

“We have already lost our homesteads and croplands several times due to river erosion,” said Kamal Uddin, a resident of Bahuka village.

“This time, as the river level continues to rise, the erosion has become more severe again. If the embankment is not properly protected, Jamuna water may enter the locality and cause flooding.”

With the monsoon season underway and water levels rising, local people fear that further erosion could threaten homes, farmland and livelihoods unless effective and lasting protection measures are put in place.