At least 200 families in Dewanganj and Islampur upazilas of the district became homeless due to recent severe erosion of the Jamuna River banks. A large tract of cropland has also been devoured by the river at Belgachha union in Islampur upazila and Daspara, Majhipara villages and Futani bazaar in Dewanganj upazila of the district. According to sources, Belgachha , Borul, Munniar Char, Ghonapara, South Belgachha, Goaler Douba, Miahpara and Dakkhinpara villages are under threat of erosion.
Most of the victims have taken shelter on river protection dam, government land and relatives’ houses after losing their homes. Sohrab Ali of village Miahpara, who recently lost his home, said he has become a victim of river erosion for 13 times. The Jamuna has swallowed his 10 bighas of cropland, he added.
The erosion by the river has taken a serious turn as a 200-meter shoal developed in the middle of a 700-meter curve after recent floods. This has sent strong current slamming into the bank and diverted the river course 50 meters south-eastward.
The severe erosion started on September 25 and is still continuing.
Abdul Khaleque Akanda, chairman of Belgachha union, said if the erosion continues the connecting road to the centuries-old Guthail Bazaar might be eroded.
He said Belgachha Ghonapara Government Primary School, two mosques and a temple of the village located are under threat. Moreover, a number of installations and institutions, including schools, college, banks and NGOs, are under threat of erosion, he added. Due to the continuous erosion people are shifting their houses and belongings to the safer places and a few erosion-hit families are staying in makeshift homes near the river bank.
Nabakumar Chowdhury, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board in Jamalpur, said: “We have dumped 10,000 geo-bags to protect Guthail hard point temporarily.”
He said a project proposal with an estimated cost of Tk 217 crores for permanent solution to the erosion was sent to the authorities of planning commission on September 22, but it is yet to be endorsed.  
The work area will cover 5.35 kilometers from Kulkandi hard point to Guthail hard point, he added.