Villagers build river dam to shame authorities
Aminul Islam, Mymensingh
As repeated appeals failed to draw authorities' attention, people in their hundreds joined hands to construct a dam to protect 25 villages from flooding by Brahmaputra in Mymensingh Sadar upazila.Ataharul Islam Bulbul, Chairman of Boror Char Union Parishad, took the lead. The villagers responded to his call and came forward to construct a 1000 feet dam along the Brahmaputra at Kustiapara village in Boror Char union. The work started late last month will be completed soon, Bulbul told this correspondent during a visit to the site recently. Local people, affected almost every year by Brahmaputra flooding, submitted applications to local Water Development Board (WDB) several times in last two years but to no effect. Villagers said they faced serious erosion every year when the Brahmaputra swelled with onrush of waters from across the border. Several hundred families were displaced in last coupe of years, they said. Many establishments including educational institutions had to be shifted several times due to river erosion, Nurul Amin of Kustiar Char village said. Boror Char Kachari Bazar High School, Kachari Bazar Hossainia Islamia Madrassah, Boror Char Union Parishad building and a mosque were shifted several times in last three years, Amin said. Boror Char Government High School is only five metres from the river bank and if proper steps are not taken immediately, the school will be devoured by the Brahmaputra during monsoon this year, said Abdul Majid, a former member of Boror Char UP. UP Chairman Ataharul Islam Bulbul said, a 1000 metre dam has to be built to save the area He said he managed Tk 3.50 lakh from the Union Parishad fund and local administration to construct spurs on the Brahmaputra river as a temporary measure. The local upazila administration however came forward and sanctioned Tk 1.5 lakh to construct two spars in the river to check erosion. Water Development Board (WDB) Director Md. Abdul Jalil visited the spot early this month and assured steps to construct a dam. Such pledges were made earlier by WDB and lawmakers from the area but nothing was done, villagers said. UP chairman Bulbul said the dam will protect 25 villages in Boror Char, Char Sirta, Paranganj, Char Iswardia and Char Nilaxia unions from flood.
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