The residents of Dhalchar, a 200-year-old remote island union in Bhola's Char Fasson upazila and surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the rivers Meghna and Bura Gouranga, are in dire straits as relentless river erosion continues to consume homes, farmlands, schools, mosques, madrasas, and vital fish depots.
The island is being gradually swallowed by the surging waters, leaving thousands displaced and desperate for help.
The situation has become so severe that terrified families are spending sleepless nights, watching the land vanish before their eyes. With no substantial government aid, locals have taken it upon themselves to combat the erosion by collecting polythene sacks from households, filling them with sand, and dumping them into the river to try and slow the destruction.
The islanders are now urging the interim government to come to their aid. Already, nearly two-thirds of the island has been submerged, with six of its nine wards completely underwater and two others partially affected. The remaining landmass has become the focal point of survival for the inhabitants, who continue to live under constant threat.
Located approximately 27 kilometers by river from the mainland of Char Fasson, the area is increasingly cut off.
Speaking with locals, it was revealed that from the house of ward no. 7 member Elahi to the end of Anandabazar, the erosion is ongoing in bursts. Over the past few days alone, two to three kilometers of land have been lost to the river, displacing more than 72 families. Many now live in the open, while others are abandoning the island, loading their belongings onto trawlers and moving to the mainland.
Dhalchar, a critical fishing hub, is contributing nearly one-third of the district's fish production. Between 30,000 to 40,000 people rely on fishing in the river and sea for their livelihoods. But the violent erosion is destroying their homes, hopes, and economic stability. The fishermen, especially those living in village clusters near the shore, are terrified that without urgent action, the entire island could vanish.
Residents like Monowara, Sakina, and Bibi Rabea from a cluster village recalled how their homes were swept away during last year’s monsoon. “We have just rebuilt our homes with great hardship. Now the erosion has started again. There’s nowhere left to go,” they said.
Locals such as Sekandar, Nirab, and Shahe Alam expressed deep concern: “At the current pace of erosion, the entire Dhalchar could be lost to the sea.” Another resident, Sabuj Bepari, noted that the community had previously organized human chains, protests, and demonstrations demanding protection for the island—but to no avail.
Efforts to contact the Executive Engineer of Water Development Board Division-2 were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.
However, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rasna Sharmin Mithi acknowledged the crisis, stating, “Currently, there is no specific project in place to address river erosion in Dhalchar. We are relocating structures that are at risk.”
Meanwhile, the helpless residents, stripped of all they own, continue their struggle against the forces of nature. They are urging the authorities to take swift and effective action before the entire island, along with their lives and livelihoods, disappears beneath the waves.
