The jamuna river of Bangladesh

Locals said the right bank of the Jamuna from Dhalirkandi in Kutubpur union to Sheikhpara Ghughumari village in Chandan Baisha union suddenly started breaking down from last Wednesday.

Chan Mia, 70, of Dhalirkandi said local politicians assure them that erosion will never occur again, but his homestead has been eroded by the Jamuna river.

Bulbuli Begum, 60, wife of Shamsul Haque of the same village lost her 10 decimals of land. “I don't know what to do now,” Bulbuli said.

Farmers said arable land has been devoured by the river and floodwater has left silt on the croplands, which makes it impossible to prepare the lands for farming, so they have to take up fishing to survive.

"The problem of river erosion is nothing new here. I informed the authorities concerned repeatedly, but no steps have been taken to solve it,” said Kutubpur Union Parishad Chairman Imran Ali Rony.

Water Development Board (WDB) Divisional Officer Moyez Uddin said a project of Tk 301 crore is being implemented to stop erosion in a 5.9 km stretch from Dhalirkandi to Roudah.