Aiburi River dying : 20,000 bighas of agricultural land in Satkhira at risk
Ranjit Barman, Shyamnagar (Satkhira)
The historic Aiburi River, which flows through the Munshiganj and Ishwarpura unions of Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira, is now almost dead. With the river having lost its navigability, nearly 20,000 bighas of farmland are in peril and about 700 families on both banks face uncertainty about their livelihoods. Local sources say roughly 75 percent of the population in these two agriculture-dependent unions rely on farming either directly or indirectly. In Munshiganj Union’s West Jelekhali and Kochukhali villages about 6,000 bighas, and in Ishwarpura Union’s Dhumghat and South Shreefolkata about 14,000 bighas of land are used to grow rice, vegetables and shrimp. The Aiburi River, which runs through these areas, used to be the main source of irrigation and income. The river rises at the sluice gate near Harinagar Bazaar in Munshiganj Union and enters Ishwarpura Union at Dhumghat. There was once a regular ebb and flow of tides and abundant local fish. Locals say boats were a primary means of transport along the waterway, and boat race festivals and similar events used to be organized.
A human chain was held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Dhumghat Hatkhola in Ishwaripur — famed as the capital of Raja Pratapaditya — demanding preservation and re-dredging of the river’s navigability. The event was chaired by M. Zillur Rahman, president of the Ishwaripur Union Green Coalition. Participants allege that illegal nets and embankments installed at various points along the river are obstructing the natural flow, causing silt to accumulate and reducing the river’s depth. As a result, drainage during the monsoon is hindered, creating waterlogging in villages on both banks. This is disrupting agricultural production and causing severe hardship for local people. The human chain was convened by Dr. Yogesh Mandal, president of the Munshiganj Green Coalition. Speakers included former Iswaripur Union parishad member Birendra Nath Biswas; Ahmed Raju, president of the Projonmo Blood Donation Organization; Md. Sharif Hossain of SD Milan Sangha; Sadhan Kumar Porman of Jelekhali Bhai Bhai Sangha; Alpana Rani Mistry of Shapla Women’s Development Organization; Suman Hossain of Saimum Youth Sangha; and Madhudyuti Mandal, among others. Other social organizations also joined the action in solidarity.
