Photo : BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, Dec 10, 2025 (BSS) - Coastal residents of Koyra upazila are living in constant fear as recurring river erosion and fragile embankments continue to threaten their homes, livelihoods and safety.

For Shahanara Begum, an elderly woman from Harinkhola village in Koyra Sadar Union, the fear is rooted in painful memories. Having witnessed six major cyclones in the past decade, she still trembles whenever an embankment near her thatched house shows signs of collapse.

"I lost my husband and mother-in-law during super cyclone Aila. My mud house, livestock and the small shrimp enclosure I depended on were all washed away," she told BSS, recalling the devastation of May 29, 2009.

Now surviving as a labourer in shrimp enclosures and crop fields, Shahanara struggles to support her four-member family. Many of her neighbours, including Mofida, Monnujan, Sharmin, Halim Sheikh, Motleb Gazi and Sarwar Mia, share similar stories of hardship, battling cyclones, river erosion, salinity and the worsening impacts of climate change.

Residents say their future will remain uncertain unless sustainable embankments are built before the rainy season. Any delay, they warn, could result in flooding that would again sweep away their resources and livelihoods.

During a recent visit, families living along the riverbanks expressed rising concern that abnormal tidal surges could breach the embankments at any moment, allowing saline water to inundate their villages.

According to the Water Development Board (WDB), Koyra upazila has 154 kilometres of embankments under Polders 13-14/1 and 13-14/2 across five unions. Of these, 21 kilometres have been identified as vulnerable, including 8 kilometres marked as highly vulnerable. Repair work is underway at several points.

The vulnerable sections include Ghatachhali, Harinkhola and Gariyabari in Koyra Sadar Union; Dashhalia and Mathbari Launch Ghat in Maharajpur Union; Shikaribari, Kalibari, Khordalkati, Baniyakhali, Shinger Kona and Hodda Sibshardhar in Maheshwaripur Union; Ratnargheri and Kathmar Char in Uttar Bedkashi Union; and Charamukha, Matiabhanga and Golkhali in Dakshin Bedkashi Union.

The highly vulnerable 8-km stretch spans parts of Maharajpur, Koyra Sadar, Dakshin Bedkashi and Uttar Bedkashi unions.

Nurul Islam Khoka, member of Ward-2 of Maharajpur Union Parishad, said that without immediate repairs, tidal surges could inundate vast areas, causing serious damage to lives and property.

Didarul Islam, member of Ward-3 of Dakshin Bedkashi Union, said around 200 metres of embankment at Matiabhanga collapsed into the river on the night of December 6. Local residents managed to avert flooding by building a temporary ring embankment through voluntary labour.

Uttar Bedkashi Union Chairman Sardar Nurul Islam and Maheshwaripur Union Chairman Shahnewaz Shikari echoed similar concerns, saying several points may breach if work is delayed. 

Osman Gani, acting chairman of Dakshin Bedkashi Union, added that the riverbank-dependent union is facing severe erosion and the recent collapse at Matiabhanga has left residents in constant fear.

WDB officials said the two polders in Uttar and Dakshin Bedkashi are part of a Tk 1,200-crore rehabilitation project under the Ministry of Water Resources. The project includes heightening and widening 32 kilometres of embankments, slope protection, river training and afforestation. The erosion point at Matiabhanga also falls under this project.

Rashidul Islam, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Satkhira-2 WDB, said land acquisition issues, delayed fund allocation, shortages of sand and soil, and tidal conditions restricting work hours have slowed progress.

Executive Engineer Abdur Rahman Tasfia said efforts are underway to complete repairs on vulnerable sections of Polders 13-14/1 and 13-14/2 as quickly as possible.

Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, President of the Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee, stressed the need for sustainable embankments to protect coastal communities.