Around 3,000 families in Chattogram’s Banshkhali upazila face growing uncertainty as a damaged coastal embankment remains unrepaired for months.
Repair work has stalled due to a dispute between the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and the upazila administration over permission to extract sand for the project.
A 50-metre stretch of the embankment at Premasia Bazar in Khankhanabad union was severely damaged last monsoon. Although BWDB issued work orders to contractors, the administration refused permission for sand extraction.
Residents of five wards under Khankhanabad Union Parishad now fear flooding if seawater breaches the embankment.
Madan Sawdagar, 60, a local businessman, said both his home and shop could be inundated. “The embankment may collapse completely and cause a severe disaster,” he warned.
Chapal Das, head teacher of South Premasia Government Primary School, noted the school’s proximity to the damaged stretch. “The embankment erodes during high tides, especially on full-moon and new-moon days. Yet authorities show little urgency,” he said.
Local fisherman Arafat Hossain said many could lose homes and land if seawater breaks through.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found large sections of the embankment already collapsed into the sea, along with concrete blocks. The road atop the embankment has also become dangerously narrow.
With monsoon approaching, residents fear further delay could leave the area exposed to heavy rains and tidal surges.
BWDB executive engineer Tanjir Saif Ahmed said his office requested permission to lift sand for the project but was denied. “Contractors could not begin work due to sand shortage.”
Banshkhali UNO Mohammad Jamshedul Alam said his office could not approve extraction as there is no designated sand quarry in the upazila. “Authorities must comply with the Sand Mining and Soil Management Act. The BWDB’s letter was incomplete and did not specify a proper site,” he said.Tanjir countered that sand had previously been lifted from the sea for similar works. “We planned to place sand-filled geo-bags to prevent erosion. Now it is uncertain whether repairs can be completed before the monsoon,” he added.
