UNB, Sirajganj :Onslaught of erosion by the Jamuna River has started playing havoc again in five upazilas of the district, much to the anxiety of the locals.The erosion has engulfed 200 dwelling houses and vast tracts of land on the river bank in the past two weeks.The upazilas where the erosion is playing wreckage are: Sadar, Kazipur, Chowhali, Belkuchi and Shahjadpur.Of the upazilas, Kazipur has been worst victim of the erosion.Sources at the district Water Development Board (WDB) said some 200 dwelling houses and vast tracks of land in different areas of the upazilas have already gone under the riverbed over the past one fortnight.The worst-affected areas are Atuarpara, Mallikpara, Maizbari, Ghoragacha, Khasrajbari and Phuljor in Kazipur.As the river continues to erode lands in the remote char (landmass emerged from riverbed) areas, 100 affected families have shifted their dwellings to safer places.They are now living under the open sky in a sub-human condition.Talking to UNB, Tozammel Haque, Natuarpara union parishad chairman, said a number of families have lost homesteads due to serious erosion and are passing days amid anxiety.He added the union council will prepare a list of the affected families and send it to the authorities concerned seeking assistance.Locals said Khasrajbari Girls’ School is under erosion threat as the institution is likely to go into the river-bed anytime.School students and their guardians expressed worries over the matter.An official of the local WDB on condition of anonymity said about 40 metres stretch of the Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment at Goyla of hard point area was washed away by the river early January this year.He, however, said they are taking necessary steps to check the erosion, adding that investigation is underway to find out reasons behind the untimely erosion.
