Bagerhat Correspondent :
The erosion of Bhairab River has taken a serious turn at Jatrapur under Sadar Upazila in Bagerhat district on Sunday, according to a report received here. On the day when a portion of Bagerhat-Rupsa (Khulna) old road at Muchighat of Jatrapur area was suddenly eroded by the river (Bhairab), Umme-Habiba (11), a student of Class-IV was fallen into the river. Though she was rescued alive she sustained injuries.
On the other hand, due to the erosion of the road at the point by the river no vehicles can ran on the road. Even the passers-by cannot move on the road at the point. Not only that but also a big crack appeared on the rest of the road at the same point and it may be collapsed in the river at any moment. On the other hand, due to the erosion of the road which was so far used as a protection embankment of the area a number of road side villagers under Jatrapur Union Parishad were inundated by the onrush of the river water at the time of high tide. Consequently, seasonal crops may be damaged if the water does not recede within a short time, it is apprehended.
M A Matin, UP Chairman of Jatrapur visited the erosion affected area on the same day and told the
Newsmen, a man who did not visit the affected area cannot imagine the fearfulness of the erosion of the area by the mighty river Bhairab. The UP Chairman added, more than half a portion of Bagerhat-Rupsa Road at the point was already eroded by the river and about 8/10 adjacent villages under my union were submerged with onrush of the river water at the time of high tided. He added, Water Development Board occasionally worked there to check the erosion of the river only in name and so, the result was not fruitful at all.
The UP Chairman urged the concerned authorities to construct a sustainable and durable embankment there to check the erosion immediately.
When contacted Md Zahurul Islam, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, Bagerhat told the newsmen, the department visited the erosion affected area and the higher authorities were already earnestly requested to allocate fund for the purpose. If the fund is available the piling work will be started to protect the erosion of the river without any delay. He added, as the (Bagerhat-Rupsa) road is under the Roads & Highways department it should be repaired by the same. On the other hand, Anisuzzaman Masud, Executive Engineer of the Roads & Highways, Bagerhat told the newsmen, the road is being eroded by the river and on the other hand, overflowing water of the river is entering the adjacent villages and created a panic among the villagers. The work for regulating the river should be done not by the Roads & Highways Department but by the Water Development Board. He continued, we are always trying utmost to activate the road and make it free from the erosion of the river.
