MONGLA, JUNE 06 (V7N) – Residents of the Romjaipur-Urabuniya area, situated along the Mongla-Ghashiakhali International Water Channel, formed a human chain on Wednesday at 11 AM, demanding immediate action to prevent severe river erosion and the construction of a sustainable embankment. The demonstration took place in the erosion-affected Romjaipur area of Rampal upazila in Bagerhat.

More than fifty houses and roads have already been swallowed by the river due to erosion in the 4-kilometer stretch from Romjaipur to Urabuniya along this international channel. Currently, over a hundred more houses are on the brink of collapse. Hundreds of desperate affected locals participated in the human chain to press their demands for urgent intervention and protective infrastructure.

Speakers at the human chain included Fattain Naeem, joint convener of Bagerhat District Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; Md. Mahfuz, founder of Fight for Coastal Rights and Justice; Abdullah Sheikh, general secretary of Rampal's Perikhali Union Workers' Welfare Federation; and local residents Firoz Majhi, Rina Begum, Sandhya Rani, Tuhin Molla, Shamim Khan, Gias Molla, and Boyjit.

The speakers highlighted that the international waterway sees countless cargo-carrying coasters daily, generating crores of taka in government revenue. Despite this, they lamented, "the government has taken no initiative to help those affected by the breach." They therefore strongly urged the current government to take immediate steps to prevent further erosion and build a sustainable embankment. They also noted that local residents have repeatedly submitted applications and memorandums to the Rampal Upazila Administration and the Bagerhat Water Development Board, requesting the construction of a sustainable embankment and erosion prevention measures, but have yet to see any action. "We hope that this Janabandhan (people's alliance) government will definitely take immediate action on our demands," they added.

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