Local residents, gripped by fear, have started relocating their homes. The Water Development Board is continuing to deploy geo-bags and geo-tubes in an effort to stop the erosion. However, heavy rainfall and strong currents have been hampering the dumping operations.
According to local sources and the Water Development Board, homes belonging to residents like Rinku Madbor, Tajul Madbor, Rana Madbor, and Imran Madbor in East Naodoba’s Majhirghat area have already been washed away. Many others living near the riverbank have also moved their homes fearing further erosion.
The protection dam was originally built by the bridge authority in the 2010–11 fiscal year. It stretches two kilometers from the Padma Bridge through Jajira’s Majhirghat to East Naodoba’s Alamkhar Kandi zero point, and cost around BDT 110 crore (11 million USD). So far, nearly 750 meters of the dam have been lost to the river across multiple erosion events. To combat the situation, over 120,000 geo-bags have been dumped. Still, the rising current has made the efforts increasingly challenging.
Victim Monowar Hossain said, “Early in the morning I heard a loud noise and rushed to the riverbank. In moments, I saw my two homes being swallowed by the river. If the erosion cannot be stopped, everything else will be lost. We urgently need a sustainable embankment here.”
Another affected resident, Shaheen Madbor, said, “I’ve lost both my house and office structure to the erosion. I don’t know where to go now. We seek financial help from the government.”
Local resident Abdul Kader Molla added, “I went to the river after hearing the news and saw two homesteads vanish in front of my eyes within moments.”
Shariatpur’s Water Development Board Executive Engineer Mohammad Tarek Hasan said, “We’ve started dumping geo-bags and geo-tubes to prevent further erosion. A permanent embankment will be constructed before the next monsoon season.”
Shariatpur Deputy Commissioner Tahsina Begum stated, “We’ve visited the affected areas. We’re listing the families impacted by the erosion and will provide support. Previously, similar victims were assisted. We’re also exploring possibilities of allocating land and homes to those who lost everything.”
The residents of Jajira are now urging the government to construct a long-term, sustainable embankment to prevent future disasters.
