The erosion of the Chhota Feni River has intensified in three upazilas of Feni and Noakhali. Hundreds of houses, croplands and roads have disappeared into the riverbed. The three upazilas are losing land due to erosion. Local people complain that the crisis is becoming more dire day by day due to the lack of effective initiatives by the Water Development Board.
According to the Water Development Board, three upazilas of Feni and Noakhali have been affected by erosion of two other rivers, including the small Feni River. This is causing severe erosion in a 13-kilometer section of Feni district alone. Similarly, Companiganj Upazila of Noakhali has also been affected by erosion. However, the Water Development Board does not yet have a complete picture of the areas affected by river erosion.
It was learned from talking to the affected people and the concerned officials of the Water Development Board that a regulator was constructed on the river in Kazirhat, Sonagazi in 1961 to prevent erosion of the Chhota Feni River and protect it from the saltwater tide of the sea. Due to the lack of maintenance and proper supervision by the Water Development Board, the regulator completely disappeared into the riverbed in 2002, 41 years after its construction. Later, on March 8, 2006, the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Muchapur Regulator, 20 kilometers downstream of the Kazirhat Regulator on the Chhota Feni River. The construction of the regulator was completed in 2010 at a cost of Tk 33 crore. After 14 years of construction, the Muchapur Regulator disappeared into the riverbed in the terrible flood of August 17, 2024. As a result, severe erosion has now started on both banks of the river.
The Kazirhat regulator built in 1961 and the Muchapur regulator built in 2010 have collapsed and disappeared into the riverbed. Due to the absence of regulators on the river banks, tidal water is causing severe erosion. Especially since last year’s floods, erosion has increased manifold.
On September 22 last year, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the interim government’s environment, forest and climate advisor, visited the submerged Muchapur Regulator area in Feni’s Sonagazi. At that time, the advisor participated in a public hearing in the area. Although she assured to take necessary measures, the local people have not seen any action in eight months.
A woman watches the scene of river erosion. Recently, in the Banshbaria area of Uttar Char Sahavikhari village in Char Darbesh union of Sonagazi upazila of FeniPhoto: Prothom Alo.
Areas where erosion is increasing
Extensive erosion was observed in the river coastal areas of Char Darbesh Union in Sonagazi Upazila, North Char Darbesh, North-West Char Darbesh, Char Sahabhikari, Char Injiman, Taltoli, Tellarghat, Fakirapul, Italy Market area, Badarpur, Miajir Ghat village in Char Majlishpur Union, Jelepara, Kuthirhat Katakhila, Kali Mandir, Aurarkhil, Adarshgram, Kazirhat Sluice Gate in Bogadana Union, Alampur, Dhanipara, Saheber Ghat, Bhashahid Salam Nagar village in Daganbhuiyan Upazila, Muchapur village in Companiganj Upazila of Noakhali district, Macchaghona, East Char Hazari and East Char Parbati village in Char Parbati Union. Already, several hundred pucca and semi-pucca houses have disappeared into the riverbed.
People have lost their land due to severe river erosion and have taken shelter elsewhere. The tidal water of the small Feni river has washed away about 500 meters of the paved road from Kazirhat to Banglabazar, disrupting communication. As a result, people living in the northern part of the market have lost their only road and are isolated. The disruption to transportation is affecting the agriculture-dependent traders of Sonagazi and neighboring Companiganj upazilas. As erosion continues, three upazilas are becoming smaller on the map.
Homeless residents
Jannatul Ferdous, a woman in her forties, is a victim of erosion in the Banshbazar area of Uttar Charsahavikari village of Chardarbesh union. She said that part of her house has gone into the river due to severe erosion. Like her, 35 to 40 families in this area have lost their homes due to river erosion and have been relocated. If the erosion continues like this, the rest of her house will also disappear into the river in a short time. Jannatul, who earns her living by working in people’s homes, is lost in thought about where to take shelter.
Halima Khatun, a helpless woman in her fifties from the same area, said that she was gifted a house from a government shelter project. Within a few years, that house has already disappeared into the river. Having lost a place to rest her head, she has now taken shelter elsewhere with her household belongings.
Autorickshaw driver Md. Nur Nabi (45), farmer Abu Taher (58), Halima Khatun (50), Shuja Mia (60), Anwara Begum (55), Abdul Mannan (60), Julhas (42), Dulal Mia (58) of Char Sahavikari village lost their homes due to river erosion.
Muchapur regulator destroyed by erosionFile photo
Md. Anwar Hossain, a day laborer from Miajighat village in Char Majlishpur union, said that the road from Miajighat adjacent to his house to Kazirhat Muchapur Gate is about to be submerged in river erosion. As 90 percent of one end of the road has been submerged in the river, his house adjacent to the road will be submerged in the river at any time. Three houses of his neighbors have already been damaged in river erosion.
Sonagazi Upazila BNP convener Joynal Abedin said, “Due to river erosion, many people living along the riverbanks have moved their homes to safer places. Some are trying to protect their homes by building embankments with trees and bamboo on the riverbanks. If river erosion continues like this, the road will also go into the river. The Water Development Board is not doing any visible work to prevent river erosion.”
Meanwhile, district BNP convening committee member Rabiul Haque recently applied to the Sonagazi Upazila Executive Officer, identifying seven places on behalf of the residents of Charamjalishpur Union to take measures to straighten the crooked river, prevent erosion of people’s homes and agricultural land due to the change in the course of the river.
Abul Kalam, former chairman of Char Darbesh Union Parishad in Sonagazi, said that despite drawing the attention of the local administration and the Water Development Board to take steps to prevent river erosion, there has been no visible progress. Officials occasionally visit the river banks and collect information. However, no work is visible.
What the Water Development Board says
Bangladesh Water Development Board Feni Office Executive Engineer Md. Akter Hossain Majumder said that four upazilas of Feni are facing erosion of the Chhota Feni River, Feni River and Kalidas Pahalia River. It is eroding in a 13-kilometer section. A project named ‘Be Strong’ funded by the World Bank to prevent erosion of the Chhota Feni River was recently passed by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). The project, costing 171 crore taka, will start work soon. Once the work is completed, the people of this region will be free from river erosion.
Akhter Hossain also said that the government has not yet taken any initiative to rebuild the Muchapur regulator, which was submerged in the river during the last flood. The Water Development Board currently has no information on this matter.
Source: Prothom Alo
