Khorshed Alam, Jhenaigati (Sherpur )

Cracks have appeared in the embankment of the Maharshi River in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur before the completion of the reconstruction work. As a result, hundreds of people living along the embankment are living in panic. Allegations of slow progress and irregularities in the embankment construction work have been raised by local villagers.

It is reported that last year, due to continuous rainfall and the onrush of hill water from upstream, the embankment of the Maharshi River collapsed in several places under the Water Development Board. The floodwaters entered through these collapsed parts, causing massive damage to several hundred houses, roads, and crops. More than 1,000 people became homeless as a result. Among them, while most families were able to repair their damaged homes, many are still unable to do so.

On the other hand, the Water Development Board took an initiative last year to repair the damaged embankment of the Maharshi River. According to sources, the Water Development Board undertook 2,160 meters of work on various spots of the east bank and 1,340 meters on various spots of the west bank of the Maharshi River in Jhenaigati upazila. A contractor was appointed through a tender at a cost of around Tk 4 crore. It is reported that the contractor started the construction work about two months ago. However, the construction work is progressing slowly. Locals complain that the work which should have taken one week has not been completed even in two months. The work is proceeding at a slow pace. As a result, people living by the embankment of the Maharshi River get scared whenever they see clouds in the sky.

Although the embankment was supposed to be repaired using soil, there are allegations that a sand-soil mixture is being used instead. According to reports, a powerful local group entered into an agreement with the contractor to supply soil for the embankment. They are illegally cutting the riverbank and extracting sand and sand-mixed soil from the river using excavators, which they sell to the contractor. The contractor is using this sand to construct the embankment. Although the embankment was to be constructed with soil, it is being built with sand. Piling is being done using substandard wood. Due to the delay in completing the embankment construction work, thousands of pedestrians are facing severe suffering.

Additionally, cracks have already appeared in the embankment in the Dighirpar area as sand is being used in the construction work. As a result, people living near the embankment are living in fear. Locals allege that using sand in the construction may severely undermine the government's purpose of repairing the embankment. There are also allegations that the influential group that contracted with the contractor for soil supply is looting sand indiscriminately from the riverbank under the pretext of constructing the embankment. For every one Mahindra truckload of sand that is used on the road, fifty Mahindra truckloads are being sold.

It is alleged that the sand extractors are so powerful that no one dares to speak out against them. Although the administration has repeatedly tried to prevent the illegal extraction of sand, the looters are not complying. As a result of cutting the riverbank and indiscriminate sand looting, the riverbank has become severely eroded. The environmental balance is now at risk.

In this regard, contractor Milon Mia said, “The locals are contracted with us to supply soil. From where they will bring the soil is their matter.

Md. Akhinuzzaman, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board in Sherpur, said that the construction work has been stopped due to allegations of irregularities. The work will resume once the sand is removed and replaced with soil.

UNO Ashraful Alam Russell said, “Obstacles have been repeatedly imposed on the illegal extraction of sand from the river. If sand and soil continue to be extracted from the river despite these, action will be taken against those responsible.”