Sherpur Correspondent

Maharashi river has now become a death trap for people of Jhenaigati upazila in Sherpur district.

Even in 53 years of independence, a town protection embankment was not built in Maharashi river of Jhenaigati upazila. Due to non-dredging, illegal construction of houses on the banks of the river, lack of excavation, the river has lost its navigability and the banks have damaged seriously.

Every year in rainy season, continuous rains and downpour from the up streams of India create danger in Jhenaigati part of Maharishi river . For this, river water breaks several places around the upazila and flooded in a vast area including the upazila sadar bzazar. Common people face huge losses and suffering a lot .

While visiting,It has found that the Maharashi river comes down from Meghalaya of India and flows over Jhenaigati upazila of bordering Sherpur District. Every year during the monsoon , River water damages thousands acres of cultivated land , seedbeds, pond, banana field.

Dighirpar Fazil Madrasah in Jhenaigati is also under the threat of extinction as it is on the bank of Maharashi. It can disappear in the river at any time. When the massive damages caused by river water in monsoon , the district and upazila administrations, water development board pay heed little but afterward turn a deaf ear . No embankment was built in the Maharashi river of Jhenaigati area even in the last 25 years.

Recent several overflows of Maharashi river greatly damaged 5/7 places at Ramerkura , Khailkura and Dighirpar villages. In Dighirpar area, many houses were destroyed by the torrential water and turned into deep ditches there. Many houses are under the threat of collapse near the bank of Maharashi river and the dwellers have to spend sleepless nights in fear of erosion in rainy season. Locals say, two eras have passed only with assurances of concerned authorities. They want the government will take quick steps to build a permanent embankment on the bank Maharshi river.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Ashraful Kabir Rasel said we provided the affected families with financial assistance and two bundles of tin for each family. The authorities of district administration and water development board have been informed for the construction of embankment on the bank of the river.

Executive Engineer of Sherpur Water Development Board Nakibuzzaman said we have given emergency support by gio Bags in the affected areas. A proposal has been sent to the higher authority seeking directives for the construction of an embankment.

Member of Parliament of Sherpur-3 Constituency ADM Shahidul Islam said I have talked about it in the National Parliament for the construction of an embankment on the Maharshi river bank. Hope the embankment will be constructed in this fiscal year.