Sugarcane farmers in Islampur upazila of Jamalpur are distraught due to the severe erosion of the Jamuna River. Sugarcane fields, homes and cropland are disappearing in an instant due to river erosion. Meanwhile, farmers are in extreme trouble as the local sugar mills are not taking sugarcane.
The erosion of the Jamuna has taken a terrible shape for the past few days in the Notunpara area of Ward No. 4 of the Noarpara Union of the upazila. Erosion has been occurring since the sudden decrease in the river water. One land after another is disappearing into the riverbed in a matter of hours.
Local sugarcane farmer Bahaj Uddin Akand said that his two acres of sugarcane field have been completely disappeared into the river. About five acres of land belonging to Saiful Islam, Kamrul Haque and Dudu Mia in the same area have also been lost to river erosion. According to locals, about 30 bighas of sugarcane fields and cropland have been submerged in the riverbed so far.
Another farmer, Sohanur, said that despite years of hard work in cultivating sugarcane, everything is suddenly being destroyed by erosion. Meanwhile, the mill authorities are not collecting sugarcane, nor are they allowing it to be sold! As a result, we are facing double losses.
Sugarcane farmer Saiful Islam said, the land has been eroded by the river, and the sugar mill is not even taking sugarcane. I don't know where to go, who to tell, I don't understand.
Meanwhile, locals have complained that no effective initiative has been taken by the administration or the Water Development Board to prevent erosion. They have demanded immediate protection of the Jamuna banks. They fear that if immediate action is not taken, the entire village of Notunpara may disappear into the riverbed.
Engineer Roman Hasan, Chairman of Noarpara Union Parishad, said, "I am not currently aware of the erosion, but I will inquire and inform the upazila administration about the matter."
Managing Director of Dewanganj District Bangla Sugar Mill, Md. Tariqul Alam, said that the site has been inspected. Necessary measures will be taken. He also said that the sugarcane from the affected land will be used as seeds.
Water Development Board Jamalpur District Executive Engineer Md. Naqibuzzaman Khan said that the erosion area has been inspected and arrangements will be made to take up the project.
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