Staff Reporter :
Some 5,081 families have been rendered homeless in Naria upazila of Shariatpur district due to the violent erosion of the Padma River in recent weeks.
Some parts of Naria hospital have also gone under the mighty river. As a result, its treatment facilities have fallen in threat.
However, the erosion situation is stable in last two days after the increase water level of the Padma. The erosion may return again with the decrease of the water level, said Sanzila Yasmin, UNO of Naria Upazila.
“We do not want help, we want the embankment, people could make their livelihood by pulling rickshaw or three wheeler if there was an embankment here,” said mother of two children, Munira Jahan, who has already been displaced four times previously due to the river erosion.
Another victim of Padma erosion, Tofazzal Madbar, said, “My house was five kilometres away, this is the fourth time, I have brought down my house and rebuilt it. I have become depleted. Our rescue is only possible if the Prime Minister looks upon us. Otherwise, there is no one to save us.”
Abdul Ali of the same area said he and his family are now passing their days renting a house for Tk 6,000 per month.
Sufia Begum of Kedarpur village in the upazila had a large house and owned a shop at the historic but fast-disappearing Mulfatganj Bazar, both of which were engulfed by the Padma.
“Within two months our wealthy condition turned into poverty,” she said.
The people affected in the region have become listless. With no rehabilitation programme on the ground, they are living under the open sky, locals said.
Though no significant damage was reported on Thursday, people of the river banks were passing their days in great fear. Around 200 houses were shifted in Naria upazila by the afternoon out of fear of the erosion approaching their area.
People were seen shifting houses and business establishments.
Affected people said no one from the government has inquired about them, nor taken any steps for their shelter. The political leaders come to them “only during the election”.
