Residents living along the banks of the Reju Khal have submitted a written appeal to the Cox’s Bazar Water Development Board, urging immediate construction of a sustainable embankment to prevent further erosion and protect their homes and vital road infrastructure. The application was officially forwarded on Sunday (June 15) through the Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
For years, erosion along the Reju Canal has posed a serious threat to several areas, including Jaliapalong Charpara, Rumkha Monir Market in Haldia Palong, Bazar Para, and parts of West Ratnapalong union. During the monsoon season, the strong current of the canal accelerates erosion, destroying homesteads and putting over a hundred more homes at risk.
A particularly vulnerable point is the Monir Market stretch of the critical Courtbazar–Sonarpara beach road. Locals warn that heavy rainfall could cause the road to collapse into the canal, potentially severing road connectivity in the area.
Hossein Ahmad, a resident of Monir Market, stated, “Immediate measures are needed to control erosion along the canal. Otherwise, our homes could disappear overnight.”
Journalist Imran Al Mahmud added, “Due to years of unchecked erosion, both the residents along the canal and the crucial Courtbazar–Sonarpara road are at high risk. A sustainable, long-term solution is now essential.”
Residents are urging the authorities to act swiftly to construct a durable embankment, emphasising that any further delay could lead to irreversible damage to both lives and livelihoods.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Courtesy
