Eid celebrations took a tragic turn for residents of Ashashuni’s Bichat village on Monday morning as a devastating embankment collapse plunged around 150 feet of protective barriers into the river, triggering widespread alarm.
As worshippers completed their Eid prayers and returned home for festivities, a distressing announcement echoed through the village mosque: the embankment of the Khulpetua River had given way. Locals rushed to the scene, only to witness a significant portion of the Water Development Board’s (WDB) embankment being swallowed by the river.
The collapse occurred around 8:45 AM in Polder 7/2, near the residence of Abdur Rahim Sardar, where a shrimp enclosure stood dangerously close to the crumbling structure. In response, villagers quickly mobilized efforts to construct a temporary ring embankment in an attempt to prevent further flooding.
The sudden breach has left residents in fear, as the festive mood of Eid was replaced by anxiety over potential flooding. If immediate measures are not taken, several nearby villages—including Bichat and at least seven others—could face severe inundation during the noon high tide, warned retired schoolteacher Nazrul Islam.
“We were all engaged in Eid prayers when the news broke. By the time we reached the embankment, it was already too late—around 150 feet had been devoured by the river,” he said.
Upon receiving reports of the collapse, Anulia Union Parishad Chairman Ruhul Kuddus rushed to the site. “We have informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Executive Engineer of Satkhira WDB Division-1. The situation is critical,” he said.
Meanwhile, WDB Executive Engineer Md. Sakhawat Hossain assured that efforts were underway to mitigate the damage. “We have dispatched teams to the site, and the villagers are actively working to prevent further erosion. The Water Development Board is also providing geo-bags to reinforce the embankment,” he stated, adding that higher authorities have been notified.
With tides rising and an entire community at risk, residents of Bichat and neighboring villages anxiously await urgent intervention to prevent a full-scale disaster.
LND/NE
