Kamrul Hasan : Due to the continuous rise in water levels of the Padma and Jamuna rivers, continuous rains and unplanned dredging, severe erosion has occurred in Harirampur, Shivaloy, Ghior and Daulatpur upazilas of Manikganj district. Hundreds of houses and agricultural land have disappeared into the riverbed in the past few days. Already, nearly four hundred families have become homeless. Some of these homeless people are taking shelter with their cattle on the roadside, while others are taking shelter in the houses of relatives.

Nirmala Bala, a centenarian from Lechharaganj village in Harirampur, said that she has been a victim of erosion thirteen times in her life. Having lost everything, her land, houses, husband and children, she is now living an inhuman life on the roadside. Her painful cry is, “Do poor people have any government? Their houses have gone into the river, they have no food, no place to lay their heads.”

Sixteen-year-old student Nusaiba Tasnim said, “All the land, property, and houses have gone into the river. No one else will understand how difficult it is to start a new life when a family breaks up. What will happen to education when there is no food!”

Sixty-year-old Priyolal Rajbangshi said, “I know that the Ganges will not break, but I have nothing else to ask for.” Her voice was filled with deep sorrow and despair.

Local tea shop owner Torab Ali said, “Everyone comes, takes pictures, and goes to see. But no one does anything for those affected by the erosion. I can’t sleep at night because I am afraid that the river will also wash away my house.”

Direct inspection showed that Lechharaganj, Kanchanpur, and Maluchi in Harirampur upazila; Aroa, Daskandi, Anboypur, Teota, Char Teota, Jafarganj, Parulia, and Alokdiarchar in Shivalayar; Ghior`s Jabra, Kayutia, Pencharkanda, Binra, Koshunda, Ghior Purbapara, Kusta, Sridharnagar and Begunnarchi; and Daulatpur`s Bachamara, Baghutia, Jibanpur and Char Katari are experiencing severe erosion. At least 50 houses, farmland and crop fields have been submerged in the river in these areas. Many families are spending their days in the open air or under polythene sheets. Children and the elderly are suffering the most due to food shortages and health risks.

The affected people have complained that despite such a dire situation, no effective government initiative is being seen. They have claimed that the problem cannot be solved without building a permanent embankment.

A former official of the local Water Development Board said, "Erosion cannot be stopped by temporary dredging or dumping sandbags. This requires scientific and sustainable initiatives to control the course of the river."

Every year, hundreds of families are left homeless due to the erosion of the Padma-Jamuna rivers during the monsoon season. However, there is no effective permanent solution yet. Locals fear that thousands more families will be left homeless in the future if urgent steps are not taken.