Ichamati River erosion changes map of Debhata upazila

Bordering Ichamati River in Satkhira is moving towards Bangladesh due to its never-ending erosion, resulting in the change of map of the district’s Debhata upazila. Several thousand bighas of land in Bangladesh part have already disappeared due to the river erosion. On the other hand, business establishments including hotels and parks have been established on the chars developed in the Indian part.

Ichamati River is actually a trans-boundary river that flows through India and Bangladesh. It acts as a boundary between the two countries.

Local residents claim that the erosion is increasing as sand is extracted on regular basis from the Bangladesh part of the river. According to officials of the district administration and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), a project on river bank conservation is ongoing.

This river divides Bangladesh and India from Haraddaha village on the Satkhira border to Basantpur in Kaliganj and Panitar area in North 24 Parganas of India to Hingalganj. Currently, river erosion has been spotted in 8-10 places.

It has been noticed that the riverside areas of Khanzia, Rajnagar, Vatshala and Komarpur villages under Debhata upazila have disappeared. On the other hand, Char develops on the Indian side of the river.

Indian authorities have set up several business establishments including hotels, parks and brick kilns. At the same time, Ichamati is moving towards Bangladesh due to continuous erosion of the river. As a result, the map of Debhata upazila of Satkhira is changing on and on.

President of Debhata Upazila Awami League and Chairman of Upazila Parishad Mujibur Rahman said that there is no more Rajnagar mouza next to Shivnagar mouza due to river erosion in Debhata. If this continues, a large part of Debhata Upazila will go into oblivion within the next 10 years.

Debhata Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Mohammad Asaduzzaman said sand lifting from the river has been stopped. Now the river erosion is happening in some places. The higher authorities have been informed about the construction of sustainable embankments alongside planting trees in order to prevent erosion.

Salahuddin, executive engineer of Satkhira Water Development Board (Division-1), said that a project on bordering river bank conservation has been proposed.

Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira Mohammad Humayun Kabir said that efforts are underway to protect the international border. Besides, sand extraction from Ichamati river has been stopped. Mobile courts are being conducted every day to ensure punishment for those extracting sand from the river illegally.