ZCZC
BSS-37
PROTECTION-EROSION (with picture)
Villagers construct erosion protection dam in Roumari upazila
RANGPUR, Sept 27, 2018 (BSS) – Some 500 villagers of Bokbandha village in
Roumari upazila of Kurigram have constructed two-kilometre bamboo-made
embankment at their own costs to protect village from erosion.
With recession in water level of River Ginjiram, erosion took serious turn
threatening houses of 2,000 families, other institutions, a vast tract of
arable land and properties of the village in recent weeks, locals said.
Lecturer of Roumari Government College Sabuz Mian, also coordinator of
the initiative, said villagers become united to save their village at own
costs and labour instead of waiting for solution of the problem by the
government.
“The villagers collected 50,000 bamboos, constructed bamboo-made crossbars
and bundles and set up those in the riverbed by the two-kilometre erosion-
prone side from Bokbandha Beparipara to Lalkura Saburer Ghat points on
Wednesday,” he said.
Over 500 farmers, labourers, traders, teachers, students, political
leaders and workers, members of different socio-cultural and professional
organisations, community leaders and civil society members spontaneously
participated in the process.
“The erected erosion protection dam will temporally save Bokbandha
Government Primary School (GPS), Bokbandha Namapara GPS, Bokbandha High
School, Bokbandha Girls’ High School, Bokbandha Graveyard, an Eidgah, four
mosques and houses of over 2,000 families in the village from erosion,” Sabuz
hoped.
Talking to BSS, school teacher Masud Alam of Bokbandha village said
villagers became united and collected bamboos, galvanized iron wire and other
construction materials at their own costs for the purpose to save their
village from river erosion.
Local elite Kazi Ashraful Alam said about 2,000 families, their houses
and cultivable land, schools, mosques and other establishments of the village
would be saved from erosion till the next rainy season.
Local trader Ziaur Rahman said people from all walks in life
spontaneously constructed the erosion control dam setting up a unique example
of unity.
Local union parishad Member Abu Sayeed called upon Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and her government for taking effective steps timely in future to save
Bokbandha village permanently from erosion as well as floods of the river
Ginjiram.
Chairman of local Jadurchar union parishad Sorbesh Ali said the
courageous inhabitants of Bokbandha village have erected the bamboo-made
erosion control dam at their own costs without government assistance.
“I firmly hope that Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina will take necessary
steps to permanently save Bokbandha and other erosion-prone villages of
Roumari upazila from erosion of different rivers,” he said.
BSS/SPL/MI/RY/1840 hrs