Due to the lack of a sustainable embankment in the Atkhali area on the banks of the Rabnabad River in Dakua Union of Galachipa Upazila in Patuakhali, educational institutions, religious establishments, agricultural land, houses and important roads have faced severe river erosion. 

The Water Development Board (WDB ) has been trying to stop the erosion by placing geo bags (sand bags) for the past few years, but it is not working. On the one hand, this is wasting government money, and on the other hand, the intensity of river erosion is increasing day by day.

The Galachipa-Bauphal regional highway, Union Parishad building, centennial zamindarbari, schools, mosques, temples and the graveyard of Altaf Mahmud, former president of the Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union, are under direct threat.  Earlier in 2024, a 100-meter embankment and a 10-meter road in the Tentultala area collapsed due to the impact of Cyclone Remal and Purnima's tidal surge. As a result, direct road communication with at least five unions has been disrupted, which has created a threat of severing communication with three other upazilas. Traffic on the road was closed for a long time. Later, attempts were made to protect the road by placing geo bags, but to no avail. Every time, water enters the embankment under the influence of cyclones and low pressure and floods the village. Locals are worried about the fear of the embankment collapsing. In the meantime, two-thirds of the road has disappeared into the river. Heavy vehicle traffic on the road has been stopped and even small vehicle traffic is on the verge of stopping. The demand for the construction of a sustainable embankment to prevent river erosion in this area has been long-standing. For more than five years, locals have been demanding it, forming human chains and writing in local and national newspapers. However, a sustainable embankment has not been built to this day.  Every year, when the monsoon arrives, the authorities responsible for the flood drop geobags.

‘Geo bags don’t work’ — Locals’ anger : 

Paubo Sub-Divisional Engineer Miraj Gazi said, “During high tide, the dam in the Tentultala area is hit by strong currents. After Cyclone Remal, there was extensive damage. Then geo bags are being thrown, but the situation is complicated.

Meanwhile, locals claim that it is not possible to prevent erosion by throwing geo bags alone. Ansar Khan, a resident of Dakua area, said, “For years, I have been hearing that a dam will be built, and money is also allocated. In reality, it is seen that when the monsoon comes, a few geo bags are thrown away. This does not work—the erosion increases.

Local resident Alauddin Gazi said, the road is submerged in the tide. Trees fall, the soil moves. Traffic on the road is stopped. If action is not taken now, the entire road will go into the river within a few days.

Dipak Narayan Bhuiyan, former assistant headmaster of Atkhali Secondary School, said that during high tide, the strong current of the Rabnabad River  It is directly hitting the dam. Especially under the influence of Amavasya-Purnima, the dam is breaking due to the strong pressure of the tide, which has now become risky. Even though geo bags have been placed to prevent erosion, it is not working.

Daqua UP Chairman Biswajit Roy said that the grave of journalist leader Altaf Mahmud, union parishad, two schools, mosque, temple, market, and a hundred-year-old zaminjarbari are under threat of river erosion. If traffic is stopped, the lives of about 150,000 people will be disrupted. He also said that it will not work with geo bags anymore. The course of the river will have to be changed by river management and excavation. Only then will a sustainable solution come.

Galachipa Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmudul Hasan said that the issue of dam and road collapse has been reported to the higher authorities. Urgent action has been taken.

Patuakhali Paubor Sub-Divisional Engineer Md. Miraj Gazi said that the river conservation work has started by initially placing 50,000 geo bags to prevent erosion. It is estimated that it will cost 1 crore 72 lakh taka. Already  33,000 bags have been dumped. He further said that there is a plan to construct a new embankment inside the embankment by acquiring land under the 'Climate Smart' project. A notice has been sent to the Project Director's (PD) office for approval, proposing a protection system up to about 1 kilometer in areas where erosion is severe. The work will start once approval is received.

According to PAU sources, a 46-kilometer embankment was constructed along the banks of the Rabnabad, Kalagachia and Lohalia rivers under Polder No. 55/1 of Galachipa in the fiscal year 1976-77. 

Later, LGED constructed a 21-kilometer carpeted road on this embankment in 1995-96, which is the only means of communication for the people of Galachipa Sadar, Dakua, Kalagachia, Chiknikandi, Ghazalia and Bakulbaria unions to the upazila headquarters. This road also connects Patuakhali Sadar, Dashmina and Baufal upazilas.