Agunmukha River devours Galachipa fish market, launch ghat

Agunmukha river has devoured a Galachipa fish market.

Patuakhali: The erosion of turbulent Agunmukha river seems to be unstoppable. Panpatti Bazaar, Launchghat of Galachipa Upazila of Patuakhali is engulfed in flames one after another. Now 6 villages of Panpatri union are under threat of erosion. 

Part of the Panpatri road has already disappeared. Many people have shifted their homes and shops several times but they have not been spared from the effects of erosion.

Locals said that Bangladesh Water Development Board is unable to prevent the erosion of the Agunmukha river even after throwing a geo bag. People living on the banks of the river are spending their days in fear of collapse. Among the rivers that are prone to erosion in Patuakhali district, Agunmukha at the southern end of Galachipa is almost at the top. In the last two to three decades, Panpatti Union,

which was a huge area, has now turned into a small village. During this period, thousands of families lost everything in the river and became landless. As the Agunmukha River is directly connected to the Bay of Bengal, Agunmukha has taken on a meandering form.

It is known that severe erosion has started on the bank of Agunmukha river since August this year. which is still ongoing. In the last two years, a large part of the fish market has been consumed by erosion.

Many businessmen have not been spared even after moving their businesses several times. This year, the fish market has started to break again. The Launch Ghat RCC road broke and came to the bank of Agunmukha. The dam is also breaking. Panpatti Launch Ghat is an important connection point for both Galachipa and Rangabali upazilas.

From here, people travel to Rangabali upazila by crossing Agunmuka by launch, trawler or speedboat. This year, the road at Panpatti Launch Ghat has collapsed along with the embankment, so it is no longer possible to travel with vehicles.

Jalil Sikder, a businessman at Panpatti Launch Ghat, said that every year they are victims of the destruction of Agunmukha. In the meantime, his hotel had to be evacuated 9 times. If the dam breaks completely, tidal water will enter the neighboring village of Tularam to eat its houses and crops. He is afraid of this.

Local heroic freedom fighter Md. Elias Mia said, Panpatti area is disappearing due to the stormy waves of Agunmukha. Panpatti is one of the fish markets of the district. If the breakdown is not prevented,

the market will collapse. Local traders and residents will be affected. We hope BWDB will take quick action in this regard.

Md. Masud Rana, Chairman of Panpatti UP,  said that 500 meters of the one kilometer road from Panpatti to Launchghat has been washed away by the river. About 10 kilometers from Kharida village to Tulatali village, the fire wave is now hitting the dam. Geo bags have been placed at various points in phases to protect the dam. But even that cannot prevent erosion.

Miraj Gazi, Deputy Assistant Engineer in charge of BWDB's Galachipa, said that in the last two years, 820 meters of embankment and the road above the embankment in Panpatti Launchghat area have been destroyed by Agunmukha erosion. In this, 320 meters of embankment geo bag has been placed to prevent erosion.

Md. Arif Hossain, BWDB's Patuakhali Executive Engineer said that a plan has been taken to protect the dangerous area of ​​Panpatti Agunmukha bank with block dam. Work will be started after allotment. - Gofran Biswas Palash