Homes and farmland vanishing into Arial Kha river

Standing on the banks of the Arial Khan River in Madaripur, one no longer hears only the sound of flowing water but also the sighs of people who have lost their homes.

A river that once sustained livelihoods and agriculture is now swallowing people's dreams, memories and futures due to indiscriminate sand extraction by illegal dredgers. One after another, homesteads, cropland, educational institutions and community facilities are disappearing into the river. Locals allege that illegal sand mining by an influential syndicate has altered the river's natural course, triggering severe erosion.

Md. Enamul Akon, a resident of Hogolpatiya village in Jhaudi Union under Madaripur Sadar upazila, once supported his family by farming nearly 10 bighas of land. After the devastating floods of 1988, the river gradually began eroding his property. Eventually, the two bighas of land and homestead he inherited from his family also disappeared into the river. He now lives with his family on just eight decimals of land owned by another person.

"Since dredging for sand began, the river has become far more dangerous," Enamul said. "We are afraid to protest because those involved are very influential. Now, only Allah can help us."

Enamul is not alone. Another resident of the same village, Titol Akon, has also seen his life turned upside down by river erosion. His paddy harvests, farmland and family home have all been lost. He was forced to build a new house on his remaining six decimals of land across the river.

"There was hardly any river erosion here before," Titol said. "Everything changed after the dredgers arrived. But no one dares to speak out because of fear."

Communities along the Arial Khan River, including Hogolpatiya and Char Hogolpatiya in Jhaudi Union, as well as Char Kalkini, Sastal and Kader Akon Kandi in Kalkini upazila, are now facing constant riverbank erosion.

Residents claim that hundreds of acres of farmland, homesteads, mosques, community clinics and local markets are being washed away every year. Educational institutions have not been spared either. Char Hogolpatiya Government Primary School and several other schools and religious institutions have already disappeared into the river, leaving children's education in jeopardy. Families whose homes still stand near the riverbank spend every night in fear that they could be next.

Several local students said they are often too frightened to travel to school during the monsoon because of severe river erosion and the dangers of river transport.

Local resident Jalil Bepari said the noise of dredgers operating throughout the night makes it impossible to sleep. "If we protest, we are threatened instead," he said.

Another resident, Billal Hossain, alleged that an influential syndicate is behind the illegal sand extraction. He warned that unless immediate action is taken, even larger areas will be swallowed by the river.

Shahanur Akon, Siddiqui Akon, Azam Hawlader and Razzak Hawlader, among many others, also blamed illegal sand extraction for the worsening erosion. According to them, some families have been forced to relocate their homes five to seven times.

Jafar Hawlader, cousin of Jhaudi Union Parishad Chairman Sirajul Islam Abul Hawlader, said his plum and mango orchards along the riverbank had been washed away. He alleged that soil from the riverbank had been sold to people associated with the dredging operations, intensifying the erosion. He also claimed he had received threats of assault for trying to stop the activities.

Responding to the allegations, Shamim Akon said, "I only sold soil from my own land. The dredger is not mine. If someone else's land is eroded, I cannot be held responsible."

Lokman Bepari, the elected member of Ward No. 7 in Hogolpatiya, said those involved are highly influential. "Even I fear being attacked if I protest," he said.

Repeated attempts to contact Mohammad Shahid Parvez, chairman of Alinagar Union Parishad in Kalkini upazila, were unsuccessful. However, Jhaudi Union Parishad Chairman Sirajul Islam Abul Hawlader said the issue of river erosion would be reported to the higher authorities. He added that no formal complaint regarding illegal sand extraction had yet been filed with the union parishad.

Sanaul Kader Khan, Executive Engineer of the Madaripur office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), said a riverbank protection project for Jhaudi Union is currently under process. Construction work will begin once the project is approved and funding is allocated following an inspection by a team of experts.

Madaripur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wadia Shabab said regular drives are being conducted against illegal dredging operations. Fines are being imposed and legal action is being taken against offenders, and the crackdown will continue.

Madaripur Deputy Commissioner Marzina Akter said separate mobile courts are regularly conducting operations against illegal sand extraction. "Strict legal action against those violating the law will continue," she said.