Persistent Meghna River Erosion Threatens Four Villages in Brahmanbaria As Residents Demand Permanent Embankments
Photo Collected
SARAIL, BRAHMANBARIA — Persistent erosion along the Meghna River is threatening four villages in the Panishwar Union of Brahmanbaria’s Sarail Upazila, leaving more than 50 families in fear of losing their homes. The affected areas—Palpara, Panishwar, Shakhaiti, and Shorbaria—have seen approximately one to 1.5 kilometers of coastline collapse in recent weeks.
Local residents report that the erosion has claimed nearly three-quarters of the land in these four villages over the last four decades, with the intensity significantly increasing in the past nine to 10 years. In the last four years alone, the river has consumed 29 paddy drying yards—locally known as chatal—including 10 in Shorbaria, five in Panishwar, and 14 in Shakhaiti. This destruction has displaced more than 1,000 laborers. During the same period, over 50 families have been rendered homeless, while more than 100 others have suffered partial property losses.
Ninety-year-old Dhirendra Pal, a resident of Palpara, lamented the loss of his ancestral land, noting that his family property has shrunk from three kani to just three decimals over the years. He recalled that a 17-kani pond once stood at the center of the village, surrounded by homes and farmland, all of which have since been lost to the river. According to Pal, approximately 500 to 600 families have migrated from the area over the last 45 years, leaving only 30 to 35 families remaining.
Community leaders, including residents Osman Gani Chowdhury and former Union Parishad member Mostafa Mia, warned that unless immediate action is taken, critical infrastructure, including the Panishwar Bazar, Panishwar School and College, and the primary schools in Shakhaiti and Shorbaria, will be destroyed.
Panishwar Union Parishad acting chairman Touhid Mia criticized the lack of permanent measures to address the long-standing crisis, calling for the urgent construction of an embankment to protect the region.
Brahmanbaria-2 Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana stated that she has taken steps to secure a long-term solution. She noted that she submitted an official request to the Minister of Water Resources in March seeking the construction of a permanent dam. In the interim, she confirmed that geo-bags are being deployed to mitigate immediate damage.
Akash Dutta, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board in Brahmanbaria, said that 19,000 geo-bags, valued at 8.5 million taka, have been placed to combat the erosion. The board has also submitted a 600 million taka project proposal to the Ministry of Water Resources to construct a 1.35-kilometer embankment stretching from Palpara to Shorbaria. Authorities hope to begin construction during the next dry season, pending project approval.
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