With untimely swelling of Jamuna River during the last several days, massive erosion along its western bank in Sirajganj district has devoured 200 homesteads and over 100 acres of croplands in 22 villages of five upazilas in the district. The affected upazilas are Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Chowhali and Shahzadpur. Meghai, Maizbari, Natuarpara, Shuvogachha, Simantabazaar and Dhekuria in Kazipur upazila, Kaizury, Gudhibari, Porzona, Monakosha and Datpara in Shahzadpur upazila and Khaskawlia, Umorpur, Jalalpur and Enayetpur in Chowhali upazila are worst affected areas. Water Development Board (WDB) sources said the Jamuna has swelled unusually during the last seven or eight days and high tide under the influence of new moon is probable reasons behind it. Many people have taken shelter in safer places like embankments and lands beside roads. Establishments including bazaars, schools, colleges, madrasa, government and non-government offices along the river are now under threat by the erosion. About 500 weaving factories, mainly handlooms, have been shut in the last seven days in the area due to the massive erosion. When contacted, Nizamul Haque Bhuian, executive engineer of WDB in Sirajganj, said they have sent proposal with an estimate of about Tk 12 crore to the higher authorities for immediate construction of embankments in Kazipur and Shahzadpur upazilas.