Jamuna River erosion has taken a devastating turn in Bhuyapur in Tangail  with the rise in water levels of the Jamuna River. 

The people living along the riverbank are spending their days in extreme despair fearing erosion, as even the little land that remained after last year's erosion is now at risk. In some areas, erosion has already begun.

Upon visiting the erosion-affected areas, it was seen that nearly one kilometer of agricultural land in Rampur and Gopinathpur villages is on the verge of being engulfed by the river. This year, locals cultivated maize, sesame, peanuts, boro paddy, jute, and other crops there.

As in the previous year, there is concern of erosion this year too in several areas including Chitulyapara, Bhalkutia, Kostapara, Matikata, Patitapara, and Konabari of the upazila.

Locals allege that although the Water Development Board repeatedly gives assurances, work on the embankment is not beginning.

Meanwhile, every year during the floods, the geo-bags placed by the Water Development Board to prevent erosion are causing the soil to collapse due to the unloading dredgers. As a result, various structures including paved and semi-paved roads, guide embankments, residential houses, mosques, temples, and various educational institutions built at the cost of crores of taka are under threat of erosion.

Victims said that water levels in the Jamuna River have been rising for the past few weeks. As a result of the water rise, erosion has appeared. But no initiative is being taken to prevent the erosion. They demand that effective steps be taken as soon as possible to prevent the erosion. Otherwise, along with the agricultural land, their houses may also be engulfed by the river.U

UNO  Abu Abdullah Khan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tarikul Islam, and Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Water Development Board Shamim Mia visited the erosion-affected areas.

Shamim Mia, Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Tangail District Water Development Board, said, “He visited the erosion-affected Jigatala area along with the UNO and AC Land of Bhuyapur. There are houses about five to six hundred meters from the site of river erosion. Therefore, the area will be monitored and necessary measures will be taken later.”