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Rivers devour homes for the shelterless

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
Forty-five homes at two shelter villages in Sundarganj and Sadar upazilas have been eroded by the Teesta and Brahmaputra rivers , rendering 45 families shelterless.
Surging water of the Teesta engulfed 35 homes, out of 140, at Badamer char in Sundarganj upazila while 10 homes, out of 140, were eroded by the Brahmaputra at Baje Chithulia in Sadar upazila.
The homeless took shelter at nearby char lands while the others are now under threat of erosion.
According to the local administration, the authorities started construction of shelters for the homeless families under the government's Asrayan Project in different areas. Bangladesh Army undertook construction of the homes in 1997.
The projects have been completed five years ago in Sundarganj and one year ago in Sadar upazlia. The shelter villages were handed to the respective upazila nirbahi officers (UNO) on completion.
Out of 37 shelter villages in the district, 12 are in Sundarganj, four in Gaibandha Sadar, one in Fulchhari, eight in Saghata, two in Sadullapur, one in Palashbari and nine in Gobindaganj upazilas. Twenty-five of those shelter villages are situated along the Teesta and Brahmaputra river basins.
On a visit to Baje Chithulia shelter village, this correspondent found that ten houses have been washed away by the Brahmaputra and the remaining houses are under threat of erosion. The 10 erosion affected families moved to other char lands.
Besides, 35 homes in Sundarganj upazila went into the river bed and the erosion is still continuing due to absence of protective measure, locals said
"The shelter village is facing erosion threat and we are worried that we might become homeless again if the houses are devoured by the river," said Akhlima Begum at Baje Chithulia.
Raju Mia, a homeless farm labourer of Purbo Badamer char, said due to erosion he has become homeless again and has taken shelter at a nearby char land.
Ward member of Moller char Union Parishad (UP) Arshad Ali said no initiative has been taken by any quarter, despite repeated appeals.
"Erosion has turned serious and more shelter homes will go into the river if protective measures are not taken. We have appealed to the UNO to save the shelter homes from erosion," said Kapasia Union Chairman Joynal Abedin Jalal.
Newly joined UNO of Sundarganj Solaiman Ali said he would take all possible measures with immediate effect to save the shelter villages.