Unseasonal Jamuna erosion in Fulchhari, Gaibandha, swallows 20 feet of bank in one hour

Unseasonal erosion has appeared in the Jamuna River at Fulchhari in Gaibandha. The sudden erosion in the dry season has caused extreme anxiety among residents of the riverbank areas. Families in homes close to the river are at extreme risk. Local people have demanded quick, effective steps to stop the erosion.

On Saturday (November 14), the erosion was seen on the ground at Baniapara, at the end of Ratanpur mouza in Uriya Union of Fulchhari upazila, and at the Katadara ferry ghat area in Madhya Uriya. Geobags placed to protect the bank are collapsing into the river. Although there is no water in the river, the speed of the current is quite noticeable. Some sand-filled geobags were also seen stocked at the ferry ghat area.

Local people said erosion began in the area about 10 days ago. But on the morning of November 7, its intensity suddenly increased at the Katadara ferry ghat area in Madhya Uriya. In just one hour of erosion, at least 20 feet of area, including geobags placed to protect the bank, disappeared into the river.

Similarly, erosion has continued for the past week at Baniapara, a little south of Katadara. According to local people, as the water receded, Jamuna erosion appeared at several points from Hazirhat to Ketkirhat.

Local people alleged that Water Development Board officials visited the affected area but took no effective action. They said some geobags were placed on the day the erosion intensified at Katadara ferry ghat, but no further activity was seen afterwards. Anxiety is growing among riverbank families.

Conscious local citizens fear that if the erosion continues, perhaps no more than a few families will be affected right now. But if effective action is not taken in time, several hundred families in the area could face a severe disaster when the river water rises in future.

Jakir Hossain, a resident of Katadara in Madhya Uriya village of Uriya Union and a grocery shopkeeper at the ferry ghat, said: 'At one time the ferry ghat was further inside the river. Over the last two years it has eroded to its current place. But on the morning of November 7, intense erosion suddenly began. The intensity was such that local people panicked. In just one hour, at least 20 feet of area including geobags disappeared into the river. If the erosion had continued as it did that day, doing business here today would not have been possible.'

Abul Azad, a resident of Ratanpur on the Jamuna bank, said: 'Erosion has been going on beside my house for a week. Water Development Board people came and looked but did no work. If erosion continues like this, our homes will go into the river. If geobags are not placed urgently, it will be difficult to save us.'

Saidur Rahman lives in a hut very close to the river. He said: 'I live only a few feet from the river. If the geobags placed to protect the bank collapse, my house will also go into the river. I ask the government to take quick action.'

Local resident Abdur Rahman said: 'Erosion has been going on for several days. We are all in panic. If quick action is not taken, several hundred families in this area may become homeless in future. So I demand urgent geobag dumping.'

Gaibandha Water Development Board's acting subdivisional engineer Abu Sayem Shafiul Islam said by mobile phone: 'A World Bank project of Tk 234 crore has been approved from Katadara ghat in Ratanpur to Ghunvori in that area. There is no scope for other new work there. With some sacks left from that project, efforts will be made to prevent erosion in the affected area as much as possible.' He also said some geobags in the erosion area are awaiting counting by a taskforce, and will be placed once the counting is finished.