At least 250 families of Shutki Kanda and Rasulpur villages under Karimpur union in Narsingdi Sadar upazila of the district have been rendered homeless over a period of three days following erosion by the Meghna, said Karimpur upazila parishad member Sentu Mia.

“I have been forced on to the roads along with other members of my family as my homestead has been washed away,” lamented Fazlul Haque of Shutki Kanda village.

While 192 families are from Shutki Kanda village, the remaining 58 families are from Rasulpur village. They have become homeless in the three days between September 4 and 6.

“The river is now devouring homesteads, orchards and croplands,” complained Afaj Uddin Molla of Shutki Kanda village.

“The Meghna has already eroded five bighas of my cropland in the village. Some 200 others of the village, too, have lost their other crops to erosion by the river during the past three days.

Around 100 families have taken shelter on roadside lands,” said former UP chairman Bachchu Master of Rasulpur village.

When some journalists of the Narsingdi Press Club visited Shutki Kanda village under Karimpur union in Sadar upazila on September 6, they found that many fields with crops, houses and a mosque have been affected by the Meghna.

Around 200 families

were living in perilous conditions.

“Many villagers have left their houses as they fear sudden erosion by the Meghna. Many homesteads, croplands and bamboo clusters have been washed away in the past couple of days,” said Haris Mia, chairman of Karimpur union.

On hearing the news of river erosion, Narsingdi deputy commissioner (DC) Shuvas Chandra Bishwas, Narsingdi Sadar upazila chairman Monjur Elahi, zila parishad members Tauhida Sarker Runa and Abdullah Al Mamun visited Shutki Kanda village and Rasulpur villages.

They said: “The government will take necessary steps to check river erosion in these areas.”

The DC requested the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) engineer to check the river’s erosion and save the croplands and homesteads.

The engineer said, “I will submit a project profile to the authorities this month seeking funds to check river erosion.”

Upazila chairman Monjur Ehali said the Meghna has already affected around 50 families in other villages. “Erosion is ongoing, but sufficient funds are not available at my office for us to take immediate steps to check such erosion.”