Human chain people in Rajibpur demanding permanent dam to stop Brahmaputra erosion
To protect the vast char area including Kodalkati Union of Rajibpur Upazila from the continuous erosion of the Brahmaputra, the people of the erosion-affected area have strongly demanded the construction of a permanent river defense dam from Sahebber Alga in Ulipur, Kurigram to Mohanganj in Rajibpur. At the same time, a human chain and rally were held calling for long-term and effective initiatives to prevent river erosion.
The program was organized by the Char Unnayan O Masala Parishad, Rajibpur Upazila Branch, on the banks of the Brahmaputra River at 5 pm on Sunday. Numerous men and women, elderly, youth and local residents affected by river erosion participated in the human chain and expressed their long-standing suffering.
The gathering was presided over by Professor (retd) Mokhlesur Rahman, President of the Char Development and Implementation Council, Rajibpur Upazila Branch. Professor Shafiqul Islam Bebu, President of the Kurigram District of the organization, spoke as the chief guest.He said, "Overall development of Kurigram district is never possible without improving the quality of life of the people of the Char. Due to the extreme weakness of the education, health and communication systems, the people of the Char are constantly facing discrimination. Due to the fragile education system, child marriage is increasing alarmingly, due to which the risk of children with disabilities is also increasing. Currently, the number of disabled people in Kurigram is about one lakh."He also said that according to the data of the United Nations Migration Agency, about 5,000 families are forced to migrate from one Char to another every year due to floods and river erosion of the Brahmaputra. In the last five years, about 6,000 families have been forced to take shelter in slums in various cities of the country including Dhaka, Chittagong, after losing everything
.The rally was addressed by journalist Sayed Ahmed Babu, general secretary of the Kurigram District Development and Implementation Council and joint general secretary of the District Char Development Committee. He said that there are about 450 to 500 chars in the river-bound Kurigram district. The people of these chars have been fighting against river erosion, floods, droughts and various natural disasters for years.He said, "The people of the chars have only one demand - effective and permanent measures to prevent river erosion. In many developing countries of the world, the government compensates people affected by river erosion. However, in our country, if houses and plots are submerged in the riverbed due to river erosion, that land is considered government khas. This is very sad. We are seeking the intervention of the honorable Prime Minister of the current government to provide compensation to the people affected by river erosion and take initiatives for permanent river management
."The speakers at the rally strongly demanded the speedy implementation of the proposed permanent river erosion prevention project worth about 8.5 billion taka from Saheber Alga in Ulipur, Kurigram to Mohanganj in Rajibpur.At the same time, they complained that the Water Development Board and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) lacked an effective role in preventing river erosion. Therefore, the speakers demanded the formation of a separate 'Char Affairs Ministry' on the model of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry. They said that specialized initiatives to improve the quality of life of about 15 million char and riverside people in 100 upazilas of 32 districts of the country are the need of the hour.
The organization's district joint general secretary Abu Darda Helal, Wazed Ali Jhinuk, general secretary of Chilmari Upazila branch Professor Fazlul Haque, general secretary of Rajibpur Upazila branch Aminur Rahman Master, former chairman of Mohanganj Union Anwarul Islam Anu, journalist Habibur Rahman, and people from various classes and professions in the erosion-affected areas also spoke at the rally.
Statement of the Water Development Board
Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said that during the current monsoon season, emergency preventive work has been done by placing 5 lakh 22 thousand sand-filled geobags at 42 erosion points of various rivers including Brahmaputra, Dharla, Teesta and Dudhkumar at a cost of Tk 24 crore. In addition, erosion has occurred at 6 more points. Prevention work will be started there as soon as the allocation is received.
Statement of the District Administration
District Administrator Annapurna Debnath said that the district administration is working with utmost importance so that the people affected by river erosion do not suffer further. Arrangements have been made through the Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources to prevent immediate erosion.
People are losing their homes, agricultural land, educational institutions and the last means of livelihood due to the continuous erosion of the Brahmaputra every day. Therefore, the expectation of the people affected by erosion is not temporary prevention, but the implementation of a permanent river management project quickly; May the lives of the people of the Char region be safe, may the certainty of survival return.
