Pabna's Nazirganj ferry pier on the verge of collapse due to severe erosion of the Padma

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Pabna Correspondent: As the water level in the Padma River rises, severe erosion has started at the neglected and neglected Nazirganj ferry ghat in Pabna. This has put the ferry ghat at risk. The ghat itself could disappear into the riverbed at any moment. In addition, the severe erosion has spread panic among the residents of the riverbank. Their homes are under threat.

It can be seen from the ground that large sections of the riverbank are breaking off from under the ferry platoon on the eastern side of Nazirganj ferry ghat and falling into the river. This erosion is going on for several kilometers from the ferry ghat. This erosion has started just a few feet away from the main platoon of the ferry. The residents of the riverbank have a place to rest their heads just a few yards away from the riverbank. The way it is breaking, they may lose that place to rest their heads in a short time.

A resident of the riverbank said, "The riverbank has been protected with large blocks on the western side of the river. However, there are no blocks on the eastern side." It has been eroding for several years, but this time the erosion is getting severe. In a few more days, our houses will go into the river. Even then, no one will see us. We are going to lose even our place to rest. We do not want anything, we just want to protect the river bank. We are in extreme fear that our houses will go into the river at some point.’

Talking to the concerned people, it was learned that this erosion has occurred due to not regulating the river during the dry season and not taking other measures to protect the river. In addition, several illegal and haphazard sand extractions are carried out within a few kilometers on both sides of the ghat. This erosion is also happening due to this unplanned sand extraction.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Nazirganj Ghat Port Officer Tofazzal Hossain blamed the UNO and DC for the current condition of the ghat.

He said that although the land for the ghat was supposed to be handed over to us in 2023 as per the agreement, the UNO and DC have not given it to us yet. That is why we are not able to do any development on the ghat. If it continues like this for a few more days (if it breaks), my ghat will break. I will be forced to move my platoon worth crores of taka.’

In this regard, the Sujanagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said, ‘Due to some objections from the locals, the land was not given to them (BIWTA). And we have inspected the site regarding the river erosion. The Water Development Board is working on this. We have already taken the initiative to work on an urgent basis.’