Kamadharpur villagers are terrified by the coral erosion of the Surma River flowing through Jamalganj, Sunamganj. More than a hundred homes, mosques and markets are at risk of erosion.
A field visit shows that more than a hundred houses, including pucca and semi-pucca houses and a two-story mosque, are at risk of erosion by the Surma River in Kamadharpur village of Fenarbank Union. This ancient village in the upazila is on the verge of disappearing. If effective steps are not taken to prevent erosion, more than a hundred houses, including the mosque, will disappear into the riverbed.
Kamadharpur market is also facing river erosion. The business owners of more than 65 shops in the market are in fear of erosion. Although the erosion of the Surma river in the village and market has become extreme over the past few years, the concerned authorities have not taken any action.
Apart from Kamadharpur village, numerous other villages and markets in this upazila are at risk of erosion by the Surma River.
Dilwar Hossain, an elder of Kamadharpur village, said, “Our village is more than 250 years old. As a child, we played football on the banks of the river. The land of more than a hundred families, including the football field, has been destroyed by the river. The river has been eroding for several years, and we could not have lived here for much longer. Now the boundary of the mosque has been destroyed, and the mosque, along with the land of more than two hundred families, is on the verge of being demolished.”
Shafiq Mia, a businessman from Kamadharpur Bazar, said, “The Jama Masjid along with hundreds of families in Kamadharpur has been eroded by the river. The Jama Masjid and shops in Kamadharpur Bazar are also at risk of erosion. If urgent action is not taken, the village and the market will be destroyed by the river. I am making a strong demand to protect the village and the market.”
In this regard, local UP member Anwar Hossain said, “Our village is on the verge of being destroyed by river erosion. The condition of Kamadharpur market is also risky. Despite contacting various quarters for a long time, we have not received any response. In the meantime, the only place of shelter for more than a hundred families has been destroyed by the Surma River. I strongly demand from the concerned authorities to protect the homes and markets of more than two hundred families, including the village’s Jama Masjid.”
Fenerbank Union Chairman Kajal Chandra Talukder said, “Many families in the village have lost their ancestral homes due to the erosion of the Surma River. Now the river erosion has taken a serious shape. More than a hundred homes, including the village mosque, are at serious risk. Along with the village, erosion has also occurred in Kamadharpur Bazar. If the authorities do not take immediate action, the erosion can take a more serious shape at any time. I seek the attention of the Water Development Board to take immediate action to prevent erosion.”
Mamun Hawlader, executive engineer of the Sunamganj Water Development Board, said, “We have informed the authorities about the erosion-affected areas along the Surma River, including Kamadharpur. Emergency work cannot be done at the moment as sand is not being extracted from the river. Steps will be taken to prevent erosion after talking to local public representatives including the MP.”
