It is worrying to note that erosion by the river Galachipa has washed away homesteads, agricultural lands, schools and community clinics at Atkhali, Dakua and Hoglbunia villages in Galachipa upazila of Patalakhali district. Being a coastal district the people living on the banks of rivers are vulnerable to erosion. The erosion caused by the turbulent river lasts   throughout the year. The severity of the onslaught increases during the monsoon. Monsoon comes bringing with it many attendant hazards for the people of the district.

River erosion renders hundreds of people homeless and landless every year in our country. It is a common problem in the country that jeopardizes life of people. Many erosion-affected people have to pass their days and nights in sub-human condition under the open sky. It is natural that due to erosion utter poverty grips the people who have once been prosperous. Displaced by riverbank erosion scores of people are exposed to worst sufferings. Returning to normal life for these ill-fated people is a distant possibility. It is an unpleasant reality that erosion contributes to spurt in the number of beggars and floating people.

Successive governments in our country have made efforts to combat river erosion with little success. Besides, in the absence of proper rehabilitation programme, most of the erosion victims had to migrate to different cities and towns to survive somehow. Large-scale migration of people to the cities and towns has put a great pressure on the latter which have already been confronted with a host of problems. Since river erosion destroys thousands of hectares of arable land every year it is a glaring threat to country’s food

security.

It is imperative for the relevant authorities to take effective measures to combat erosion. Protective measures like dumping of sand bags can arrest erosion. Long term measures should also be taken to face the onslaught of erosion.

Emergency relief materials should be sent to the erosion victims. Many of the victims need food and shelter, and it is urgent. There should be a long-term plan to rehabilitate the victims. Newly emerged char lands may be distributed among them. Besides, vigorous attempts must be made to protect river bank from further erosion.