Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
The sudden embankment collapse on Saturday afternoon on the river Kapotakkha at Ghatakhali embankment in Koyra Upazila under the district affected at least four villages. Around 2500 people have marooned due to the flash flood and dyke collapsing.
It is learnt that at dilapidated point of 13-14/2 polder’s embankment adjacent to the river Kapotakkha, near at the house of Sohrab Sheikh has collapsed suddenly, causing immense suffering to the people of four villages. The villages are-Ghatakhali, Gobra Purbo Chak, Horinkhola and No 2 Koyra in Koyra Upazila of Khulna district.
Over 900 acres of paddy field and around 700 shrimp enclosures washed away, said local public representatives.
Several families have taken shelter in other villages as their houses went under water. Being informed, Koyra Upazila Chairman AKM Tamizuddin and Koyra Sadar UP Chairman SM Shafiqul Islam visited the spot and tried to resist water by giving alternative ring embankment taking the local people with them.
UP Chairman Shafiqul Islam expressed his anger and said, on May 4, 2017, Water Development Board (WDB) authorities completed tender and after the tender, in spite of fact that it is requested to the WDB for sending contractor, but they did not pay any heed to it and this is why WDB is responsible for collapsing of the embankment and irreparable loss of the people of four villages. If the repair work is not done within a short span of time, the flood water is likely to reach Koyra upazila, UP chairman thinks. At least three villages under the same upazila have been flooded, said Nurul Islam. The three villages are Horihorpur, Patirgheri and Paddopukur.
The homeless Alimuddin Gazi, Motiar Gazi, Kolimuddin, Golejan Begum and Beauty Begum have taken shelter over Wapda embankment.
Shaid Gazi, Akkas Ali, Khadiza Begum and Shilpi Rani of 2 no. Koyra village said, “suddenly the embankment collapsed and most of our croplands, fish enclosures, cattle and poultry and other valuables washed away, we are living inhuman lives without getting food and other necessaries.”
Local UP Member Alhaj Abdul Gaffar Dhali said, Due to embankment collapse ,crops, vegetables and fishes four villages of Koyra upazila were inundated.. People of four villages became affected badly due to the sudden embankment collapse, he added.
Sadik Kabir Hirok, a student of Khulna govt. B.L. College and also the resident of village Ghatakhali said, I went to my own village and I was there during the embankment collapse which caused us immense sufferings.
Torab Ali Sana, Ahad Ali, Mokim Gazi, Rostom Dhali and Shahadat Dhali said, four villages were inundated due to sudden collapse of the embankment and at least 2500 people of the four villages have marooned.”
Shefali Das, Julekha Begum, Aporna Mondol and Ayesha Begum of villages Gobra and Horinkhola said, “We are now in haphazard condition due to sudden embankment collapse, our crop lands, ghers (fish-enclosures), ponds, houses were flooded.”
Faruk Ahmed, WDB said, “We have heard the news of embankment collapse, but due to fund crisis renovation work would not be possible.”
Md. Bodiuzzaman, UNO, Koyra upazila said, embankment collapse is a common matter during this period, due to inclement weather in the Bay, flash flood caused the embankment collapse.
