Erosion puts Kopotakkho River embankment at risk in Khulna, threatening 15,000 residents

A significant breach has developed along the embankment of the Kopotakkho River in Khulna's Koyra upazila, putting at least 15,000 residents at risk.

Though the embankment has not yet been completely breached, locals fear it could collapse at any moment, causing severe flooding.

A visit to the affected site this morning (30 May) showed that around 300 meters of embankment at five different points in Harinkhola village — under polder numbers 13 and 14/2 of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) — collapsed into the river.

The soil has eroded, revealing loose sand inside the embankment, which is being washed away by the current. The river's changing course is striking the embankment with increasing force, making the situation more critical. Locals continue their efforts to contain the damage using soil and geo-bags.

The embankment could break entirely at any moment, putting nearly 15,000 residents of Harinkhola, Ward No 2 of Koyra, Gobra, Ghatkhali, Madinabad, and other parts of Koyra Koyra sadar upazila at serious risk.

According to residents, the erosion followed an unusually high tide, approximately four feet above the normal level, caused by a low-pressure over the Bay of Bengal late yesterday night. As the tide began to recede early this morning, cracks and collapses appeared along the embankment.

Segments of the embankment, including soil blocks and geo-bags placed by the BWDB, were quickly washed away by the strong current.

"We are digging and placing soil to protect the embankment," Mostafiz Sheikh, a resident of Harinkhola told The Business Standard. "If the government doesn't act fast, this area will become uninhabitable. The authorities never respond in time, and it's always the poor who suffer."

Another resident, Hafizul Molla, expressed anger over the situation. "The embankment was built just three and a half years ago. It's already collapsing because they used sand instead of solid materials inside."

Billal Hossain, a schoolteacher from Gobra, said the embankment was once considered the strongest in Koyra. Built in 2021 at a cost of Tk10 crore, it has now been exposed for its poor construction.

"The erosion has been worsening since morning. At this rate, the entire area could be flooded," he added.

BWDB's Executive Engineer in Khulna, Ashraful Alam, told TBS. "The high tide caused by the low-pressure has led to erosion in Harinkhola, and water has also entered parts of Choukuni. Our sub-assistant engineers have already visited the site.

For now, we are using geo-bags to prevent the erosion. A contractor will be appointed soon to begin repair work."