Reconstruction of Flood Embankment in Kamalganj: A Crop Worth of Tk.10 Crores will Save Every Year
By Tahsin Taha
Two-kilometer eroded embankment of Rahimpur Union in the central Kamalganj of Moulvibazar District in Bangladesh was reconstructed recently, which will save a massive crop from flood damage.
However, the families who left their land and houses for the embankment are in dire straits. These affected people are demanding rehabilitation from the government.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the 2.0 km flood embankment on the right bank of the Dhalai River in Pratapi village from the bridge adjacent to Chaitraghat Bazar in Rahimpur Union collapsed about a decade ago.
Since then, every year, when the water level of the river crossed the risk level, water would enter through the erosion area and flood a vast zone. Streets and houses overflowed then. About 2,000 hectares of crops have been being destroyed every year. Although the old embankment was being repaired temporarily in every year after the occurrence of flood, the gradual erosion could not be stopped.
Alternative embankment construction work has been completed recently through the project at the expense of Tk. 89.91 lakh ( !0 lac = 1 million).
The construction of the embankment will reduce the suffering of millions of people in Rahimpur and Patanushar Unions of Kamalganj Upazila and Kamarchak Union of Bajnagar Upazila and also will save field crops of the worth of taka ten crores in every year ( Tk.1.0 crore = 10 million).
Locals informed that the site was almost unveiled when the old embankment was being slowly destroyed. Every year there were floods, and that’s why crops were being destroyed. Now the embankment is built, they’re safe.
Iftikhar Ahmed Badrul, chairman of Rahimpur Union Council, said, “Victimized families are being rehabilitated. Government land is being sought for this. If they get land, they will be given houses at the government’s expense.”
Rajendra Shankar Chakraborty, the executive engineer of the Water Development Board (BWDB) Moulvibazar, said, “There was no provision for land acquisition for construction and repair of the Dhalai river defense embankment. If it had, it would have been done. We have requested the local people’s representatives to rehabilitate the victims.”
