Assam: Villagers hold prayer meet for protection from erosion by Brahmaputra river

Hundreds of residents of the Bashmura village, which is located in the Fakirganj area of the Dhubri District, gathered today in front of the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River to pray to Almighty for protection from the river's destructive erosion. 

The villagers, who belong to the Muslim community, performed the Jumma prayer and then held a dua mahfil (prayer meeting), where they appealed to the Almighty to protect their land and livelihood from the devastating impact of the Brahmaputr river's erosion.

The villagers said that they have lost hope in the government and the administration, as their repeated pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears. 

They claimed that they have not received any benefit from any government scheme to stop soil erosion in the riverine village, which has been facing the wrath of the Brahmaputra for years. They said that many valuable assets, including several houses as well as educational institutions, have been washed away by the river in the Fakirganj area.

"Only the Almighty can save us and our land now," said Alhaj Abu Taleb Miah, a senior citizen and one of the attendees of the prayer. He said that the tragedies in connection with the erosion are endless, and that many people have become homeless and landless due to the river's fury. He said that the villagers have no other option but to rely on their faith and pray to Allah for mercy.

The prayer meeting was attended by people from the entire region, who expressed their solidarity with the affected villagers. They also urged the government and the authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent further erosion and provide relief and rehabilitation to the victims.