Photo : Messenger
The Brahmaputra River in Chilmari, Kurigram, is experiencing severe erosion, causing significant destruction to the area. Over the past week, at least 10 families in Chilmari Union have lost their homes, and 20 more families have relocated to save their properties from the advancing river.
Local efforts to combat the erosion have been insufficient, as 50 tree bunds constructed to prevent erosion have been washed away, along with hundreds of acres of fertile farmland. Additionally, vital infrastructure, including two primary schools, a community clinic, and a costly electrical submarine cable, are now under threat.
The erosion has particularly affected the char areas of Chilmari Union, including Shakhahati, Manatola, and Karaibarishal. In just one week, 10 houses in these areas have been swallowed by the river. The construction of 50 tree bunds, funded by a local initiative costing Tk 20 lakh, has failed to protect the land, resulting in the loss of hundreds of acres of agricultural fields.
Key community structures in Shakhahati are at risk, including the Shakhahati No. 1 Government Primary School, Shakhahati Community Clinic, and Manatola Government Primary School. The electrical submarine cable, a significant investment costing nearly 50 crore BDT, is also in jeopardy. Local residents blame upstream activities, particularly the use of dredger machines to extract sand from the middle of the Brahmaputra River, for exacerbating the erosion.
During a visit on Saturday, residents of Manatola, including Shahin Mia, Mokhlesur Rahman, Aminul Islam, Mukul Mia, Tara Mia, and Jamal Mia, were seen dismantling their homes and shops to move them to safer locations. Many were also cutting down their trees and bamboo in a desperate bid to salvage their resources. Razina Begum, wife of Nur Mohammad, expressed the urgency of the situation, stating that the erosion has become so severe that there is barely time to dismantle homes before they are claimed by the river. "With the river ahead, we dismantled our homes. But we have no place to take shelter. For now, we are placing the dismantled houses by the nearby road," she lamented.
Zainuddin Mia, Mehedi Hasan, and other residents reported that in just the past week, at least 10 houses have been lost to the river. They warned that without immediate intervention, Chilmari Union might eventually disappear from the map. The community is urgently calling for measures to prevent further erosion and to repair the damaged submarine cable.
Despite efforts by Chilmari UP Chairman Aminul Islam, who, with local support, constructed 60 bunds using trees and bamboo to combat the erosion, the severity of the situation has resulted in the loss of about 50 of these bunds. Chairman Aminul Islam highlighted the extent of the damage, noting that in the past week alone, 50 bunds, 10 houses, and hundreds of acres of farmland have been lost to the river. He stressed the imminent threat to the submarine cable, which, despite its critical importance and the significant investment it represents, has not seen any effective response from the relevant authorities.
The people of Chilmari Union are facing a crisis as the Brahmaputra River's erosion continues unchecked. The loss of homes, farmland, and essential infrastructure demands immediate and effective action to prevent further destruction and to protect the community from being erased by the relentless river.
Messenger/Fameema
