For decades, residents of Zajira upazila in Shariatpur have endured the River Padma’s erosion. The opening of the Padma Bridge, not far from Majhirghat in Shariatpur, had given them hope they would no longer face such losses. Many invested in multi-storey houses, tin-wood homes and businesses.

That hope collapsed in July when the river devoured around 50 bighas of land -- mostly in residential areas -- under Purba Naodoba union, destroying houses, farmland and shops and displacing several hundred people. Many have taken temporary shelter elsewhere, while others remain in their homes in fear of further erosion.

The erosion began on 23 July and stopped more than a week ago. Locals blame months of sand lifting from the river and the negligence of a construction firm responsible for building an embankment from Zero Point to Pailan Molla area.

Residents said influential locals lifted sand with dredgers for five to six months, often starting around 11pm and finishing before dawn.

They alleged the administration ignored repeated protests. Names of those allegedly involved were given to the Daily Sun, but could not be published as they remain unverified.

A Water Development Board (WDB) officer in Shariatpur, requesting anonymity, said the embankment work was divided into 30 packages. “Package No 03”, covering Zero Point to Pailan Molla, was awarded to a particular firm on 2 January 2025, with a 30 June 2026 deadline. “The company did not start work until 26 July, three days after the erosion began when they rushed to dump geo-bags. By then, huge tracts of land and property had already been lost,” the officer said.

In contrast, “Package No 02,” awarded at the same time to another firm, has already been completed. “If work on Package No 03 had begun on time, this erosion might have been avoided,” the officer added.    

On Tuesday, WDB officials met the contractor at Pailan Molla, where the firm’s negligence was discussed.

At one point, a WDB officer informed the company that the government had decided to cancel its contract.

Teenager Shafiqul Madbar, son of Elias Madbar, said his family had seven bighas of land in Wakil Uddin Munshi Kandi, part for their home and the rest for cultivating crops, corn and vegetables.

“About 17 days ago, the river swallowed all our land in just four hours at night,” he said. Ten bighas of homestead and farmland belonging to neighbours were also lost that night.

“After that, we took shelter on another piece of land as we have none left. The river left us with nothing,” Shafiqul said, alleging that geo-bags were only dumped three days after erosion began. “We have not received any help from the government.”

Elderly Hashem Madbar said his 21 kathas of land, houses, 83 bamboo bushes and other trees were destroyed about 20 days ago.

“We had been living there for 40 years. Now I am staying with my family at Gonirmor. I need financial assistance from the government to overcome this,” he said.

Arif Khan of Alam Khan village said his house was claimed by the river five times between 2006 and 2014. In 2014, he bought five kathas of land and built a new house, but has now had to move it again to avoid erosion.

“Earlier, a bigha of land could be rented for Tk20,000 a year. Now it’s Tk50,000-60,000. More than 100 families like us have already moved their houses. Those still living near the river are living in fear,” he said.

Several residents alleged that elected representatives and influential locals were behind the sand lifting.

Water and climate change expert Prof Ainun Nishat said sand lifting can worsen erosion.

“If sand was lifted near the affected Zajira area, it might have had an impact,” he said. Regarding flood protection, he said, “The embankment at Naria was well-designed. But I have seen the design of the embankment at Zajira, it is not up to standard.”

Shariatpur WDB Executive Engineer Mohammad Tareq Hasan said they were unaware of any sand lifting in the river channel near the affected area.

Zajira Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kaberi Roy could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

The reporter can be reached at: [email protected], Edited by: Harun Md. Shahed Bin Naim