Erosion wipes out road in Kushiyara, people search for shelters

In Beanibazar, Sylhet, erosion by the Kushiyara River has destroyed the only access road to North Deul village. This road was the sole link to Beanibazar town. At the same time, homesteads and farmland are also being eroded. Many people are rushing in search of shelter out of fear of losing their homes. The people of the isolated community now face the worry of finding safe shelter on one hand and the hardship of being cut off from communication with the upazila headquarters on the other.

Rahil Ahmed, a resident of North Deul village in the Kurar Bazar Union of the upazila, lost a portion of his ancestral homestead within two days due to river erosion. The remaining part of his house is also at risk of being swallowed by the river at any moment. He is now rushing in search of shelter, carrying the pain of losing his last possession before his eyes. Like Rahil, many others in North Deul village are taking shelter elsewhere, leaving their ancestral homesteads in the face of river erosion.

Rahil Ahmed spoke of the pain of losing his home: "I had built a brick house with great hardship with the help of relatives. Due to river erosion, that house along with the land left by my father is now under threat. I have had to lose my homestead to the Kushiyara River before my own eyes."

The damage from river erosion is not limited to homesteads alone. Emran Hossain, a resident of the Mawdapur area of Kurar Bazar Union, said that a Jame Mosque in their area has already been destroyed by erosion of the Kushiyara River.

Tutiyur Rahman Tota, chairman of the Kurar Bazar Union Parishad, said that new areas of his union are being affected by river erosion. In the past two to three days, a portion of Rahil Ahmed's ancestral homestead and the only access road of Deul village have been swallowed by the river.

According to Sylhet Water Development Board data, a project worth about Tk 19 crore was sent to the Planning Commission about two years ago for the repair and renovation of 32 kilometers of embankment on both banks of the Kushiyara River in Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Golapganj, Fenchuganj, and Balaganj upazilas. Later, it was sent back with instructions to conduct a new feasibility study and submit the project again. Currently, the feasibility study for the new project is in its final stages.

Asif Ahmed, executive engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board, said that the UNO and local public representatives had informed him about the erosion. He said that the matter be communicated to WDB authorities through the local member of parliament to facilitate quick approval of the project.

Bianibazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Umme Habiba Mazumder visited the river erosion-affected areas. She toured the affected areas and spoke with local residents.