Erosion by the river Jamuna devoured over 150 homesteads and 100 acres of crop land in Shimla, Bahuka, Italy and Balighugri villages of Sirajganj Sadar upazila over the last couple of weeks.

"The onslaught of the river started in the middle of April. We who live beside the river have become vulnerable as houses and crop land are being devoured by the river every day," said Md Habibur Rahman, a resident of Shimla village.

"Erosion has taken a serious turn in the areas due to lack of a permanent protection wall," Habib said, demanding construction of a permanent wall to save the four villages.  

"We have already informed the Water Development Board (WDB) of the matter. The Board will start erecting a protection wall soon," said Md Shamim Khan, vice-chairman of Sirajganj Sadar upazila.

Contacted, Sayed Hassan Imam, executive engineer of Sirajganj WDB, said they have taken steps to build an embankment immediately to protect the areas from river erosion.

"We are seeking land from the villagers to build it. After acquiring the land, we will construct the dyke," the WDB engineer said.

Earlier, WDB had given work orders to nine contractors to build a dyke in Shimla village in fiscal year 2010-11. As eight of them could not start work in time, the WDB cancelled the work orders.