A century-old graveyard in Shimultala village, Surma union, Doarabazar upazila, Sunamganj, is being washed away by erosion from the Khasiamara sub-tributary river. Locals are living in fear as a result.
A site visit found that parts of the roughly three-acre Shimultala Panchayeti graveyard have collapsed and been swallowed by the adjacent Khasiamara river. Several graves have already been lost to the river. Relatives have dug up remains from some graves and reburied them elsewhere.
According to local sources, the graveyard was established a century ago through the efforts of residents of Shimultala village and surrounding areas. Over that century, relatives across several generations have been laid to eternal rest there. The graveyard is bound up with the emotions, feelings and love of the area’s people. Whenever they get the chance, villagers visit the graveyard to stand beside the graves of their parents, grandparents and other relatives and offer prayers. But the threat from river erosion has left locals fearful of losing the last remnants of their parents’ and relatives’ memory.
If this erosion continues, not just the graveyard but the very existence of the entire village will come under threat.
Maulana Jomir Uddin of Shimultala village said the graveyard was established many years ago with the cooperation of villagers. As the intensity of river erosion grows by the day, he said, many families in the village are digging up the bones and skeletons of their relatives to preserve their last memories, reburying them elsewhere. Several graves have already collapsed and been lost to the river. If the graveyard is not urgently protected, he said, the graves holding the memory of our ancestors will be swallowed by the river.
Moinul Haque of Shimultala village said: “Hundreds of graves are disappearing into the river before our eyes, and we can do nothing about it. No one is here to see our suffering.”
Surma union parishad chairman Harun Ar-Rashid said: “A graveyard is the final earthly address for people, and the first step of their eternal journey. I was deeply saddened to hear this graveyard is being lost to river erosion. I will speak with senior officials and take the necessary steps to prevent this erosion.”
Doarabazar Water Development Board sub-divisional engineer (SO) Saddam Hossain said he was not aware of the matter. He said steps would be taken toward a permanent solution to the erosion after an inspection and adoption of a suitable project.