The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad, back from Satkhira

The border River Kalindi is devouring the village Banshjharia in Bangladesh as its main channel has shifted due to reported construction of spars and groins on the other side in West Bengal, India.

The midstream of the river is taken as the Bangladesh-India border in the area has changed course reducing Bangladesh territory. Bank erosion is continuing due to lack of protection on the Bangladesh side, local people said.

On the other hand, Bangladesh may lose the Kalindi Island comprising about 700 acres of char land, which emerged on Bangladesh territory due to erosion for several decades, to India if erosion cannot be checked and the Kalindi Island linked up with the mainland of the country.

The Kalindi Island, now under control of Bangladeshi people, is also called as Kalindi char and Kalindi forest, which looks as like a part of the Sundarbans.

The mainstream of the 40km long River Kalindi is still flowing by its western side while the new course curved its way by its eastern side through Bangladesh. The length of the shifted course is about one kilometre.

Local people said the forest department turned the Kalindi Island into a green land after independence. Now, Bangladeshi people go there to catch fish and crab and collect wood.

Talking to visiting team members of the Water Reporters Forum, Bangladesh, Mansur Ali Gazi, 45, said that the Kalindi Island is still under control of Bangladesh.

He, however, apprehended that the control might not be persisted if the government cannot link the island with the mainland immediately.

Mansur Ali, a resident of the village Banshjharia under Kaliganj upazila, said they are facing erosion at the bank of the shifted river and losing their farm land and houses one after another. On the other hand, he alleged that the main river is being silted day by day since India is dumping bolders and constructing spars and groins on their side.

He emphasised the need for taking government measures to prevent erosion and protect Bangladesh land by linking up the Kalindi Island with the mainland.

Meanwhile, Water Development Board sources said Bangladesh could not take measure to link up the Kalindi Island due to objection from India.

According to sources, the then Water Resources Minister Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed paid a visit to Kalindi Island in 2004 and asked the authorities concerned to stop the shifted course of the river. Work order was given to a contractor and partial construction work was also completed but finally the government had to take a "U" turn due to objection from the Border Security Force of India.

Lutfor Rahman, Executive Engineer of WDB, Satkhira-1 told this correspondent that a land survey is needed to settle the issue and protect the Bangladesh territory both from erosion and occupation.

According to him, the area of the Kalindi Island is about two sq kilometres.

He said the most vulnerable area for erosion is Ghurshi Raja Rampur at the village of Banshjharia.

The Executive Engineer said they have submitted a proposal to the ministry concerned to construct 5.75 kilometres of permanent embankment to protect the rivers Kalindi and Icchamoti from erosion.