Severe erosion in the river Jamuna has threatened the flood control dyke -- Guthail hard point -- at Gilabari village in Islampur upazila.Pressure has been built up with the rise of water level in the river, which might trigger erosion and threaten the 750 metre-long Hard Point, our Jamalpur correspondent reports.
Water Development Board (WDB) under its Flood Action Plan project constructed the hard point in 1996 to protect 300-year-old Guthail Bazaar and many other nearby villages from erosion. The place has been hub of socio-economic and academic activities involving thousands of local traders, professionals and students for decades.
Besides, Guhailghat is the transit point of river route for the commuters and traders of Belgacha, Kulkandi, Sapdhori unions, western part of Chinaduli and  Sakata, Fulchhari upazilas of Dinajpur and Sariakandi of Bogra districts to communicate to the upazila and other areas of the district.
According to WDB, 200 metres of the concrete hard-point with 20-22-metre slope was damaged in the flood last year. Of the damaged portion 60m collapsed completely, middle point of the Bazaar and 140m partially by the erosion, treating the entire business centre.
Considering the consequences, the higher authorities concerned allocated Tk 1.58 crores to start temporary protection work at the damaged portion of the hard-point to avert further deterioration through tender.
As per work order, the construction farm M/S Goodman Enterprise, Akurtakur para, Tangail, was assigned to initiate dumping of over 80,000 gunny and GEO-Textile bags filled with sand on May 7, which is due to  be completed by June 30 this year when the water-level remains at 15-16 metres, 3/4m below the danger level (19.50m).
According to sources to protect the vulnerable damaged portion of the hard-point, around 40,000  gunny bags were dumped along the slope till June 13.
By this time 5m of edging towards middle point of the bazsar area eroded, said the SDE adding the situation has worsened due to the rise in water level, strong current forcing a delay in protection work.
When contacted Shahjahan Kabir, local member of Chinaduli UP, said about 1000 business establishments, two colleges, a senior madrassa, a high school, four primary schools, several NGO offices, a warehouse, three towers of mobile operators and four concrete mosques are located inside the bazaar area. Local people, traders and local government representatives have  expressed deep concern over the situation.
Our Sherpur correspondent reports: The erosion of the Bogi River took a serious turn flooding at least 20 villages in the Nalitabari upazila.
Water flowing down from hills across the border and continuous rain in the past seven days has eroded the river bank at two points near the Khalbangah village and the Jamtoli village,Tthe Bogi River has devoured 200 feet areas of the Khalbangah village. Thousands of hectares of Aman seedbeds have gone under water, said Nalitabari Upazila Agriculture Officer Sharif Iqbal.
 Liton Dev Sen, hailing from the Morichporan village of the upazila, said the water of the Bogi River has inundated at least 200 houses of Khalbangah, Khorkoriakanda, Charpara, Morisporan and Simoltola villages in Nalitabari upazila.
Farmer Ali Hossain of West Khalbangah village said that he has prepared T-Aman seedbeds in two acres of land by taking loan; but it has been eroded by the river.
Apart from this, the river erosion has also completely damaged a total of 10 hectares of winter vegetable  in the Nalitabari upazila of the district, said sources at agriculture office.  Besides, thousands of people have been marooned by the flood water.
Road communication between Nalitabari and Nakogow land port has remained disrupted for three days now.
 Nalitabari upazila Chairman Moklesur Rahman Ripon visited the river erosion areas and said there is no possibility of much loss as there is no crop in the fields.” The information on Bogi river erosion has been communicated to Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury and the concerned authorities for necessary action immediately," he added.