Mentionable, on 15 November 2007, the devastating Cyclone Sidr hit southern Bangladesh causing over 3,500 deaths and severe damage.
An aerial view shows houses, a road and a concrete-block embankment along the Baleshwar River in Bagerhat’s Sarankhola upazila. Nineteen years after Cyclone Sidr, residents remain concerned about continued river erosion threatening protective embankments and nearby settlements. The photo was taken on Thursday. Photo: Ali Akbar Tutul
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An aerial view shows houses, a road and a concrete-block embankment along the Baleshwar River in Bagerhat’s Sarankhola upazila. Nineteen years after Cyclone Sidr, residents remain concerned about continued river erosion threatening protective embankments and nearby settlements. The photo was taken on Thursday. Photo: Ali Akbar Tutul
Coastal residents of Sarankhola upazila in Bagerhat continue to live in fear, even 19 years after Cyclone Sidr, as embankments along the Baleshwar River are repeatedly damaged and repaired without any lasting solution to ensure long-term sustainability.
According to locals, relentless erosion along the river is steadily changing its course and eating away at the safe distance between the river and nearby settlements.
Local residents warned that protective embankments are increasingly at risk.
Emily Begum, a local resident, said, “Whenever water level rises in the river, it reminds me of the terrible night of Cyclone Sidr. I fear we may lose everything all over again as the embankments are repeatedly damaged and repaired, but there is no lasting solution. The river is eroding the land so rapidly that it is becoming increasingly difficult to protect homes.”
Zakir Hossain, another resident from the area, said, “After Cyclone Sidr, our only demand to the government was for a durable embankment. In response to our demand, an embankment was built with funding from the World Bank.”
“However, several sections of it have since developed breaches, including new ones that are causing growing concern among local residents. Families living alongside the embankment cannot spend the night in peace,” he added.
Local leaders also echoed with them and called for sustainable embankments to protect the homes and livelihoods of the coastal people.
An aerial view shows houses, a road and a concrete-block embankment along the Baleshwar River in Bagerhat’s Sarankhola upazila. Nineteen years after Cyclone Sidr, residents remain concerned about continued river erosion threatening protective embankments and nearby settlements. The photo was taken on Thursday. Photo: Ali Akbar Tutul
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An aerial view shows houses, a road and a concrete-block embankment along the Baleshwar River in Bagerhat’s Sarankhola upazila. Nineteen years after Cyclone Sidr, residents remain concerned about continued river erosion threatening protective embankments and nearby settlements. The photo was taken on Thursday. Photo: Ali Akbar Tutul
Mohammad Shahidul Islam, president of the Southkhali union BNP, said, “On one side, there is river erosion; on the other, vulnerable embankments. In between, people are fighting for their survival.”
“The biggest demand of coastal communities is that their safety must be ensured before another disaster strikes. They no longer want to wait for relief or receive sympathy after losing their loved ones,” he added.
He further alleged that irregularities in the construction of durable embankments after Cyclone Sidr had contributed to the continuing vulnerability of the area.
Shahidul called for river management and the construction of durable embankments to reduce the suffering of local communities and protect them from future disasters.
According to locals, cracks have also been identified along the embankments at several locations in Bagerhat, including Bogi, Gabtala and Southkhali in Sharankhola, as well as Amtala and Fasiatala in Morelganj.
Protective blocks have also collapsed into the Baleshwar River in several areas, they alleged.
Emergency work using geobags and concrete blocks is currently under way at two locations to address the immediate risks.
Joyanta Pal, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Bagerhat, said residents’ fear is backed by genuine concerns over the deteriorating riverbanks.
He said that under the World Bank-funded Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP), flood protection embankments had originally been constructed with setbacks of between 200 and 400 metres at various points.
“However, continuous river erosion has significantly reduced these distances, bringing the embankments dangerously close to the river. In some places, the structures are on the verge of being swallowed by the river,” he added.
Joyanta further said, “A proposal has now been put forward to protect 11 kilometres of riverbank along a 25-kilometre stretch identified as vulnerable. A feasibility study is currently under way to assess the risks and determine the extent of riverbank protection required.”
“Once the study is completed, a Development Project Proposal (DPP) will be prepared, followed by initiatives to implement the project,” he added.
Sarankhola Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rezaowan Iftikhar said, “Whenever a natural cyclone strikes, people living in coastal areas are gripped by fear. A durable embankment remains the key demand of the people in this area.
Every year, cyclones cause breaches in embankments at various locations. We are informing the relevant authorities of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) so that the damaged sections can be repaired and rebuilt.”
“Meanwhile, initiatives are ongoing under the government’s supervision to raise disaster preparedness and awareness among people from all walks of life, with a view to tackling such disasters,” he added.
Mentionable, on 15 November 2007, the devastating Cyclone Sidr hit southern Bangladesh causing over 3,500 deaths and severe damage.
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