Jamuna river bank protection work block shifted in Sariakandi, locals panic

Sariakandi (Bogra) Representative. Block landslides have occurred at 3 places in the Jamuna river bank protection work in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra. The landslide occurred north of the Kalitala Groen Dam. The landslide was caused by the water coming from the Dakuria River on the west side of the river. The residents of the riverbank area are spending their days in fear.

Now this part of the Jamuna river is completely dry, but if the water in the river continues to rise, there is a fear of major erosion at any time. Therefore, repairing work here is very important during the dry season. If erosion occurs here, the locals are panicking, fearing that the Kalitala Groen Dam and the upazila headquarters will be damaged.

The Kalitala Groen Dam is playing a strong role in preventing erosion of the Jamuna river. Sariakandi Upazila and Sadar Union have been saved from the river erosion due to this dam. Government Abdul Mannan Women's College is located 300 meters from where the block collapse started. In addition, the distance from this Groen Dam to the Upazila Parishad and Upazila Nirbahi Officer's office is one kilometer. And 600 meters from the area affected by the collapse and 500 meters from the flood control embankment, which is now under the threat of collapse.

It was learned on the ground that the river water in this area dried up completely for about a month. Since a few days ago, the water from the Dakuria River on the west side of the river has been continuously flowing into the Jamuna River under the block, causing the soil there to move and causing the landslide. This caused the landslide in the 300-meter bank protection dam in that area. Of these, the block completely moved and three large holes were dug in a place of about 100 meters. The locals fear that the flow of the Jamuna River will cause river erosion here during the rainy season. If the river erosion occurs here, there is a risk that the Kalitala Groen Dam will be damaged in an instant.

When talking to the locals, they said that if repair work is not done here during the dry season, the continuous erosion here will threaten the Upazila Executive Officer's office, Government Women's College and several important structures in the area including the Kalitala Groen Dam. Therefore, they demand that the concerned authorities urgently carry out repair work on the parts that collapsed during the dry season.

Document writer Md. Mizanur Rahman Mizan of Dhap village said, several huge holes have been created due to the displacement of blocks and mats in some places of the river bank protection dam. We, the people of the river bank, know that if it is not repaired now, there will be widespread erosion here as soon as the next monsoon season starts. This will damage many offices, courts and the main embankment along with homes. Therefore, we demand that it be repaired quickly.

When asked about this, Mahmud Hasan, Executive Engineer of Bogra District Water Development Board, said, "We will repair the places where the landslide occurred as soon as possible. There is a river called Dakuria near the place where the landslide occurred. The water flowing from there has removed the soil under the block, and the bank protection work was completed around 2004. We have visited the collapsed area several times. Repair work will be started there very soon."