Sirajganj Correspondent: Water is rising in all the rivers, including Yamuna, in Sirajganj due to the hill slopes coming down from upstream. As a result, river bank erosion has started. Hundreds of people on the banks of the river are spending their days in extreme despair due to the fear of erosion that survived after the previous erosion.
Meanwhile, water has already entered the char and low-lying areas. Due to the rapid rise in water, the cropland in the Yamuna River’s floodplains is submerged. On the one hand, the houses are being washed away by the river; on the other hand, due to the subsidence of the cropland, there is fear of flooding among the people of the Char region.
The water level of the Yamuna River was recorded at 11.97 meters at Raksha Hard Point in Sirajganj city on Friday (June 21) morning. 20 cm rise in 24 hours, flowing 93 cm below the equator (latitude 12.90 m).
On the other hand, the water level was recorded at 13.71 meters at Kajipur Meghai Ghat point. 26 cm rise in 24 hours, flowing 1.9 meters below the tidal line (tilting line 14.80 meters).
It is known that severe erosion has occurred in Jalalpur, Khukni, and Kaijuri Unions of Shahjadpur due to the increase of water in the Yamuna River. In the space of a few days, more than one and a half hundred houses have disappeared under the river, said the victims of the erosion.
They said that thousands of people have lost their homes and land due to the long-standing severe erosion in Shahjadpur’s Jalalpur, Khukni, and Kaijuri areas. Numerous public and private buildings and roads have been lost under the river. After a long period of agitation and waiting, the government approved the construction of a permanent dam to prevent erosion in the region. Although the work on the project has started, it is not being completed quickly due to the negligence of the contractor and the public. As a result, these areas are again under the influence of erosion. Victims said that hundreds of houses and croplands in Jalalpur and Kaijuri Unions have been washed away in the current season. These people have lost everything in the river and become destitute due to erosion.
Motaleb and Abdus Salam, who are affected by the erosion of Jalalpur Union of Shahjadpur Upazila, said that if the erosion is not prevented on an urgent basis, hundreds of houses and structures will be lost in the river.
Farhad Hossain, a farmer in Panchil village of Kaijuri union of the same upazila, said that the cultivation of fodder land has to be continued throughout the year. Every year, we are affected by floods. I am cultivating sesame in one bigha. Now I see that the water is rising. If the water rises like this, the land will sink in 4-5 days.
Farmer Altab Hossain of the Nishchintpur area of Kazipur Upazila said that he is scared when he sees flood water. Water has started rising in the lowlands of Char. Sesame has been planted in two bigha. I don’t know if I will be able to raise the crops at home due to the way the river water is rising. I am also worried about jute.
Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Anwar Sadat said that at the moment, sesame and jute are being cultivated on pasture land. The water in the Yamuna River has been rising for a few days. We are always on the lookout. Care is being taken to ensure that farmers are not harmed.
Mahbubur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Sirajganj Water Development Board, said that the construction of a dam at a cost of Tk 650 crore is going on in Shahzadpur upazila to protect the banks of the Yamuna in a six and a half-kilometer area. However, the work period is until June this year. However, as the work was not completed, the period was extended for another year.
