Dam collapses in Bagerhat, damages crop land

With the erosion by the Baleswar river taking a serious turn, 300 metres of an embankment collapsed in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat, inundating a vast track of croplands in the last two days.

At least 10 bighas of arable land went under water and 300 metres of embankment in front of Ashar Alo Mosque cyclone shelter of the Water Development Board (WDB) have been devoured by the river Baleswar at Dhakkin Shoutkhali village in the upazila, reports our Bagerhat correspondent.

The river bank erosion is going on unabated, according to locals.

At least five shops and hundreds of trees were also been damaged by the incident.

Many people have been forced to shift their valuables elsewhere fearing of further flooding in the area.

Meanwhile, Sharankhola Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Lincoln Biswas has visited the area.

Southkhali Union Council Chairman Mozammel Hossain said, ‘‘the people of the Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CIP) have been building one embankment after another without planning. As a result, the embankment of Bogi area has been affected seriously. Because of this, people in the area are suffering.”