The coastal barrier of Banshkhali of Chattogram is constantly eroding into the sea. Photo: Messenger
The government has sanctioned a project worth Tk 600 crore for repairing the embankment in Banshkhali, bringing happiness to coastal inhabitants. On May 28, a broader project totaling Tk 874 crore was approved for the coastal embankments of Anwara and Banshkhali, with Tk 600 crore earmarked specifically for the Banshkhali section.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) began a project 7.5 years ago to build a sustainable embankment along the Banshkhali coast, initially estimated at Tk 251 crore. Approved by ECNEC on May 19, 2015, this project aimed to construct a 14 km embankment along the Bay of Bengal and the Sangu River. Due to delays and cost increases, the total expenditure rose to Tk 293 crore 60 lakh, with a revised completion date set for June 2022. The project encompassed tasks such as protecting 6.2 km of embankment slopes, preventing erosion, reforesting 5.6 km of the embankment, and protecting 3.8 km of riverbanks. By 2022, around 90% of the project was finished.
Banshkhali MP Mujibur Rahman CIP noted that after assuming office, he conducted several meetings with Water Development Board officials to advance the project. The State Minister for Finance, from the neighboring Anwara upazila, played a crucial role in the project's approval, bringing it to the Prime Minister’s attention. Upon completion, the embankment is anticipated to transform the Anwara-Banshkhali coast into a significant economic hub.
Despite the longstanding demand from West Banshkhali residents for a sustainable embankment, the structure built at Tk 293 crore 60 lakh is disintegrating rapidly. In Kadamrasul and Premashia areas of Khan Khanabad Union, the embankment is vanishing into the sea. The destruction of the embankment during the 1991 cyclone led to over 100,000 deaths. Subsequent cyclones like Aila, Sidr, Komen, and Roanu also flooded hundreds of acres of farmland, rendering them uncultivable. This year, large areas have again become unsuitable for cultivation.
Locals claim that substandard construction materials, corruption, and embezzlement significantly diminished the project's budget. Poor planning and construction have caused the embankment to erode within a year. Some attribute recent changes in the Sangu River’s flow due to new shoals, creating 60-foot-deep pits, as further destabilizing the embankment. However, most locals reject this explanation, insisting it was the engineering department's duty to assess feasibility and execute the project properly, questioning why coastal residents should bear the consequences.
Inspections revealed that extensive sections of the embankment in Kadamrasul and Premashia have collapsed into the sea. The remaining sections, surrounded by CC blocks, are cracking and gradually sinking. A significant tidal wave could submerge this portion entirely.
Shibendu Khashtagir, Chief Engineer of the Southeast Region Water Development Board, stated that the Tk 874 crore project for sustainable water management in Banshkhali-Anwara has been approved, with nearly Tk 600 crore allocated for Banshkhali. The project aims to protect coastal embankments, greatly benefiting salt, fish, and agricultural cultivation.
The new embankment project in Banshkhali is a critical effort to address long-standing issues of coastal erosion and flooding that have plagued the region. Past failures in embankment construction, characterized by poor material quality and mismanagement, have left the community vulnerable to natural disasters. The new project, with a substantial allocation of Tk 600 crore, aims to rectify these issues with a focus on sustainable development. It includes comprehensive measures for slope protection, reforestation, and erosion prevention, ensuring a robust defense against future cyclones.
The project’s success is expected to safeguard lives, protect farmland, and foster economic growth, transforming the Anwara-Banshkhali coastline into a resilient and prosperous area. Local stakeholders, including MP Mujibur Rahman, are actively involved, emphasizing transparency and accountability to avoid past pitfalls and ensure the project's timely and effective completion.
Messenger/Fameema
