Border road disappearing in erosion of Malda River in Lalmonirhat, locals demand steps ahead of monsoon
Md. Lavlu Sheikh, Lalmonirhat
The border road adjacent to the India-Bangladesh border is gradually disappearing due to severe erosion of the Malda River. At least 10 families lost their homesteads in last year's erosion. Locals of Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat have demanded urgent action to protect this border road from further erosion.
On-site inspection revealed that more than half of the road has already been engulfed by the river. Locals are being forced to travel about 15 kilometers via an alternative road. Residents, school and college-going students are facing severe suffering. The worst-affected are patients and people with emergency needs. Even the activities of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are being hampered.
Locals said that last year’s erosion destroyed homes of at least 10 families in the Bogurapara and Malgara areas. This year, the erosion has taken an even more devastating form. Around 5,000 families are now at risk, including mosques, temples, and educational institutions.
At this time, sixty-year-old Shomiron Begum said in a tearful voice that, having lost her land to erosion, she moved her small hut across the road to find shelter. "Now the way the road itself is being eroded, I am in extreme danger."
Ismail Hossain (50), who is at risk in the Bogurapara erosion zone, said, “My house and land have all been devoured by the Malda River. Two out of my three rooms were swallowed by the river. Now I have taken shelter by the roadside with my family.”
Abul Kalam from the same area said, “We used to travel to Lalmonirhat district town via the Bolairhat-Lohakuchi road. This year’s erosion has damaged both the road and the bridge.”
Locals alleged that although the Water Development Board and public representatives have visited the road several times since the beginning of the erosion, no effective initiative has yet been taken.
Ramzan Ali, panel chairman of Gorol Union, said the river was about 500 yards away from the road. But due to erosion in the past two years, half the road has disappeared. "If no action is taken quickly, a major disaster will occur."
Sunil Kumar Roy, Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said, “On June 4, the erosion-prone areas of Malda were inspected on-site. The situation has been reported to higher authorities. Work will begin immediately after receiving the allocation.”
