After decades of devastating land loss, communities along the Madhumati River in Faridpur are finally finding relief. A Tk 487 crore permanent dam, now 90% complete, is set to protect thousands of families and critical historic sites from the upcoming monsoon.
Spanning 9.5 kilometers across eight points in Madhukhali and Alfadanga upazilas, the Water Development Board (WDB) project is finishing well ahead of its June 2027 deadline. For 54 years since independence, the monsoon season brought panic to these riverbank communities as homes and croplands regularly vanished into the riverbed.
"Every year, we lived in fear that our houses would wash away," said Rabeya Begum, a local resident. "Now, we are finally at peace."
The newly constructed embankment secures vital regional infrastructure. Faridpur District Council Administrator Abzal Hossain Khan Palash confirmed the dam will protect the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Memorial Museum, the Swapnanagar Ashrayan project, government schools, local markets, and vast tracts of agricultural land.
Beyond flood and erosion protection, the dam is simultaneously transforming into a local public space. WDB Executive Engineer Md. Rakib Hossain noted that permanent benches and umbrellas have been installed along the banks, drawing daily visitors and turning the structure into a community recreation hub.
"There is no longer a fear of erosion this monsoon," Hossain said. "People can finally dream of living anew."
Local officials, including Kamarkhali Union Parishad Chairman Iran Chowdhury, have also emphasized the need for regular river dredging to maintain normal water flow and ensure the dam's long-term success.
