Jahid Dulal, Lalmohan (Bhola)

Panic is prevailing among 140 families after Tentulia River embankment breaks in Lalmohan, Bhola. Residents of the housing estate are spending their days in extreme misery due to the tidal water. Residents fear that water will enter their housing estates through the broken embankment during the current monsoon season, causing further damage.

A 2-kilometer embankment adjacent to the Karatoya Housing Estate on the banks of the Tentulia River in Ward No. 3, Gaimara area of Farajganj Union of Lalmohan Upazila is in a risky and unsafe condition. Due to the extreme indifference and negligence of the Water Development Board, extreme suffering has arisen among 140 families of that housing estate. Due to the regular breach of the embankment by the waves and tidal water of the Tentulia River, 140 families of the housing estate are now spending their days in extreme insecurity and existential crisis.

According to local sources, most of the 2-kilometer embankment in the Gaimara area of Ward No. 3 of Farajganj Union has already disappeared into the river. There are no embankments in two places. Water enters the locality during high tide. This is causing extreme suffering to the residents of the housing estate.

Locals complain that the Water Development Board has not taken any effective initiative to build permanent and sustainable embankments on the river banks in this area. Every year, crores of taka are spent on temporary embankments and geo bags are used during the monsoon and disaster seasons, and before the monsoon season ends, they break and merge with the river. In fact, the Water Development Board here is busy making money every year by building embankments.

Residents of Karatoya Housing Estate, Monir, Surma and Achma, said that we are living in great difficulty in the housing estate. When it rains, water flows through the broken roof of the housing estate. Now tidal water has been added to it. Even in the dry season, we have to face extreme danger during the monsoon season. When there is a flood, water enters the residential area through the broken embankment and the water becomes stagnant. Then I somehow live in the residential house with my children.

Farajganj Union Jubo Dal leader Md. Russell Sipahi said, we have contacted the people of the Water Development Board to repair the embankment, they said they will come to inspect the site soon.

When this correspondent tried to get comment from the Lalmohan Water Development Sub-Divisional Engineer, no one was available. It is learned that the officers and employees of the entire office, including Sub-Divisional Engineer Ahsan Ahmed Khan, sat in the office of the Char Fashion Executive Engineer-2 instead of working in Lalmohan.

Bhola Water Development Board-2 Executive Engineer Md. Asfauddaula said, we will inspect the damaged embankment on the banks of the Tetulia River in Lalmohan and take action very soon.