Living almost underwater: Erosion spells death of localities in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj
According to an estimate by Rajshahi Divisional Agriculture Office, at least 3,000 bigha agricultural land in Natore, 9,681 bigha in Rajshahi and 14,857 bigha in Chapainawabganj have been inundated by the Padma, while at least 18 char areas have been submerged
On the banks of Padma river, in the border areas of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, nature's wrath is on full display.
Sunken houses dot the landscape – 70 devoured by the river only this week amid heavy rains.
Thousands of people seem to be living in a perpetual state of inundation.
Humans, dogs and cattle wade through water to get places. It's a sinking land owing to unabated river erosion.
And this trend is continuing.
Chairman of Char Ashariadaha union, under Rajshahi's Godagari upazila, Ashraful Islam stresses the significance of the catastrophe.
"At least 70 houses have disappeared into the river, and many people are moving away from their homes. The erosion of Padma river has become severe due to incessant raining for a week. The economic loss is also great as vast areas of tomato fields have been inundated too," he says.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Godagari Atikul Islam said they will visit the area and make an assessment of the situation today (28 September).
Although some areas at Char Mazardiya on the other side of Rajshahi city have been inundated, the erosion has halted there to some extent.
This is not the case at Chak Rajapur union in Rajshahi's Bagha upazila, where people are continuing to move to higher grounds for safety.
"Not only houses, but a primary school has also been shifted. At least 3,000 families in Chak Rajapur and Gargari union are living almost under water at this moment," said Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Bagha upazila Md Tarikul Islam.
Meanwhile, severe erosion is taking place throughout a four kilometre stretch in Alatuli and Narayanpur union of Chapainawabganj.
A third of agricultural land in the unions has gone under water, while people living in Paka, Dulavpur and Monakosha unions in Shibganj upazila have been hit hard by inundation and erosion too.
Chairman of Naraynpur union in Chapainawabganj Sadar Najir Hossain said they did not find any solution to these problems after making the rounds of various ministries.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Chapainawabganj Sadar Tasmina Khatun said a total of 1,000 families have been shifted from riverbanks in Char Alatuli and Narayanpur unions.
"A primary school and a relief shelter have disappeared into the river. A total of 1,500 hectares of pulses crops have been damaged, which has created an economic toll on the local people. The Zila Parishad office has provided 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to the people of these two unions," Tasmina said.
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chapainawabganj Ahmed Mahbub-ul-Islam, around 6,000 people from the district Sadar and Shibganj upazila are currently submerged in river water.
"Many houses have been taken away by the mighty Padma. We are currently making an estimate of the losses," said Mahbub.
According to an estimate by Rajshahi Divisional Agriculture Office, at least 3,000 bigha agricultural land in Natore, 9,681 bigha in Rajshahi and 14,857 bigha in Chapainawabganj have been inundated by the Padma, while at least 18 char areas have been submerged.