Bangladesh News

Hundreds of workers and navy divers have been working to prevent the Sirajganj town protection embankment from further erosion as the entire dyke comes under threat after second time collapse.

Sources said the navy team has identified some gaps developed in the dyke under water and asked the authorities to place sand sacks and concrete blocks there to protect the embankment against further damage.

Talking to The Daily Star, Navy team leader Lieutenant Ariful Haque Arif said the entire two and a half km of the embankment is now under threat.

Water Development Board (WDB) Director General Abul Kalam Mohammad Azad and Water Resources Secretary Sheikh Waheduzzaman visited the embankment site yesterday morning.

During the visits, they said the Jamuna behaves mysteriously and nobody can guess what would happen in future. They also expressed their apprehension that any further collapse may take place because of its unpredictable undercurrent.

They also asked the officials concerned to take necessary initiatives to stop further collapse of the embankment.

Nijamul Haque Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Sirajganj said, their workers are engaged at different vulnerable points to protect the remaining portion of the embankment.

Nabokumar Karmokar, coordinator of Sirajganj Swartha Rakkha Sangram Committee, said the government sanctioned crores of taka for monitoring and maintenance of the embankment while the WDB officials misappropriated the amount. Sirajganj town is now facing threat of erosion and floods due to their negligence, he added.

Local Awami League leader advocate Hossain Ali Hassan also blamed WDB officials of negligence. He urged the authorities to take action against the responsible persons.

Faults in the design and construction of the embankment and lack of monitoring by the WDB are the main reasons behind the erosion, locals said.

Around 400 metres of the embankment collapsed in Jamuna in two separate incidents on July 17 and July 10. About 500 houses, 200 acres of cropland and many establishments were also devoured by the river in the last couple of days.