M R Amin, Chittagong

A severe fund crisis coupled with unauthorized control by local influential groups has left the coastal embankment and drainage system of Banshkhali Upazila in tatters. The crisis has triggered artificial, prolonged waterlogging, putting hundreds of thousands of residents at risk of devastating floods.

According to sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), a 149.85-km embankment alongside 89 sluice gates was constructed to protect agricultural land and homesteads from tidal surges, while ensuring rainwater could drain during low tide.

However, these structures—built in the 1970s and 1980s—have outlived their shelf life. Out of the 89 sluice gates, 16 are completely defunct, 17 are partially damaged, and the remaining 56 are operating far below their capacity.

Local residents alleged that influential syndicates have taken control of the sluice gates to protect their commercial fish and salt farms. During heavy downpours, these groups illegally shut the gates to prevent their ponds from overflowing, trapping the upstream hilly runoff on the mainland.

This calculated move, combined with the lack of regular dredging in 29 major canals and the construction of illegal embankments by farm owners, has led to catastrophic flooding. In recent spells of heavy rain, several lakh people found themselves marooned as water submerged houses, roads, and crop fields.

A few individuals created an artificial crisis by keeping government sluice gates shut for their personal fish farms," said Muhammad Jahirul Islam, Member of Parliament for Banshkhali. "Due to a lack of proper monitoring, these structures practically became part of their private farms. To alleviate the flooding, we recently had to cut the embankments at 20 different points to drain out the water."

A BWDB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed a deeper systemic failure.

"While maintaining these aging structures requires around Tk 20 crore annually, we receive a meager Tk 2 to 3 crore. Senior officials are often preoccupied with launching new mega-projects rather than maintaining existing ones," the official said, adding that regular maintenance could have prevented this humanitarian disaster.

When asked about immediate remedies, Dr. Tanjir Saif Ahmed, Executive Engineer of BWDB (Paur-2), admitted that the majority of the sluice gates are expired and hazardous.

"As a short-term plan, we have started repairing the breached sections of the embankment. For a long-term solution, we are preparing a Development Project Proposal (DPP) to replace 33 sluice gates, re-excavate the Jalqadar and Chhota Chanua canals, and re-section the embankments," Dr. Ahmed told The Daily Star.

He added that the DPP would be submitted next week for approval. While a previous proposal had been rejected, a separate project for coastal embankment construction has already received the government's green light.

Experts and locals warn that unless the government breaks the nexus of local syndicates and ensures adequate funding for regular maintenance, the coastal defense system of Banshkhali will face an irreversi