Sudden erosion by the Bishkhali river in Rajapur, Jhalokati, has carried away an embankment and a road, raising fears that tidal water will pour into about 150 acres of aman paddy. Badurtala Government Primary School No. 65 is also under threat.

The erosion began suddenly at around 10am on Sunday, 13 September, at Purba Badurtala in the upazila and grew fiercer as the day went on. The embankment, the road and cropland went into the river; residents say about 100 shatak of land has been lost.

The only path the school's pupils use has also gone. Assistant teacher Md Shaon Mallik said the children now face severe difficulty getting to school and the administration needs to step in quickly. With the erosion continuing, there is concern for the school building itself.

Aman has been planted on about 150 acres in the affected area. With the embankment breached, farmers fear tidal water will submerge the crop. Aman grower Md Saheb Ali Khan said he had worked hard to plant the paddy; unless the embankment is repaired quickly, the rice will be ruined and the loss will be heavy.

Residents fear that unless the erosion is checked quickly, the school building and more of the surrounding area will go into the river. They have called for erosion control, repair of the damaged embankment and road, and effective measures to save the school. Rajapur upazila nirbahi officer Rifat Ara Mouri said the matter will be taken up with the Water Development Board and the agriculture department for a quick solution.

In this coastal district the embankment is the aman crop's only defence. The rice is at its growing stage, so a few tides of saline water are enough to cost a whole season — which makes the timing of the repair the real question.

Source: banglanews24