TBM Report
In a concerning development, an Ashashuni Upazila housing project in Satkhira—designed for the landless—is on the verge of collapsing before even being handed over to beneficiaries. Eighteen houses constructed in the Mahishkur area of Sriula Union are currently facing severe erosion risks as large cracks have emerged in the surrounding soil. The instability of the project, built at a cost of approximately 4.67 million BDT, has sparked widespread public outcry regarding the planning and execution of the government initiative.
A field inspection revealed that the houses, flanked by commercial fish farms (ghers), are suffering from massive soil subsidence. The protective palisading structures have tilted, and erosion is rapidly encroaching upon the foundations of the buildings. Local residents, including Sheikh Habibur Rahman, noted that the project’s longevity was compromised from the start by failing to account for the soil type and the impact of the adjacent fish farms. Despite construction being completed over a year ago, the houses remained unoccupied and unmonitored, further exacerbating the decay.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Md. Amirul Islam acknowledged the situation but attributed the damage to neighboring fish farm owners. He claimed that the drainage of water from the ghers caused the palisading to lose stability and tilt. While the PIO assured that repairs would commence once the ghers are refilled, locals remain skeptical, calling for a more permanent and sustainable solution before the upcoming monsoon season leads to a total wash-out.
The delay in handing over these houses, each costing 259,500 BDT, highlights a significant administrative lapse. With nearly 4.7 million BDT of public funds at stake, the community is demanding a thorough investigation into the project’s failures and immediate measures to secure the homes for the intended landless families.
