Daulatdia Ferry Ghat at risk of erosion again

River erosion has begun at Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari. A part of terminal-3 and its adjacent area have already gone into the Padma over the last three days.

Locals said large chunks of land would go into the river unless the authorities took steps. Approach roads to pontoon-1, -2 and-3 and over 500 nearby houses were damaged due to erosion last year, they said.

Water Development Board in Rajbari and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) jointly started dumping geo-bags in the area to stop the erosion.

Locals urged the government to construct an embankment to protect Daulatdia and its adjacent Siddik-Kazirpara and Majid Shekherpara villages from the erosion.

After the erosion last year, it could be possible to open terminal-3, but terminal-1 and-2 are still closed.

Daulatdia has six ferry terminals.

Shah Alam, sub-assistant engineer of BIWTA at Daulatdia ferry terminal, said strong currents in the Padma caused the erosion. Geo-bags were being dumped to prevent the erosion.

A project for modernising Daulatdia and Paturia ferry terminals has been taken up.

As part of the project, a 6km dam will be constructed -- 4km upstream from the Daulatdia ferry terminal and 2km downstream. If the dam is built, Daulatdia ferry and launch terminals could be permanently protected from erosion, he said.