Erosion halts Mujib Killa construction

The construction of a Mujib Killa (elevated structure in flood plains) in the middle of Char Falimari in Mogholhat of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila has been stopped due to erosion of Dharla river.

The completion of the Killa has become uncertain much to the worry of 300 families living in the char area.

The killa was being constructed just 18-20 metres away from the river.

Char Falimari belongs to the community of fishers and their sufferings know no bounds especially during natural phenomena like floods visit the char. During floods, this char gets submerged. They suffer immensely with their cattle and other belongings. The construction of the Mujib Killa was to provide them with a safe shelter during floods.

The construction work of Mujib Killa has been kept unfinished citing erosion of Dharla. As the construction work has not been completed, the char people will have to suffer in the coming floods like in past, they said.

Saidul Islam, 48, a resident of Falimari Island, said that it was unplanned site selection that has caused the abandonment of the construction. There is much khas land in this char but the killa was not constructed in a safe site.

"The river was eroding some 100-120 metres away while the construction of the killa started in February 2021," he said adding, that the government fund has been destroyed due to unplanned site selection.

According to Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila administration sources, the construction of Mujib Killa started on February 18 last year at a cost of Taka 2 crore 8 lakh 5 thousand 590 funded by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The work was supposed to be completed on August 17 last year. A contractor from Dhaka was doing the construction work and received 68 per cent of the bill.

Contractor Shafiq Rahman said he has already removed construction materials from the site.

The construction work will resume if the concerned authorities give permission, he said.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Mashiur Rahman said construction work of the Killa was halted on the instructions of higher authorities.

According to the decision of the higher authorities, the construction work of the killa was started on the site as per the design of 2016, he said.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmuda Masum said that it is not possible to protect the under-construction Mujib Killa without preventing river erosion.

The higher authorities of the project were informed of the matter, she said.