The devastating erosion of the Padma River has taken a serious turn in Naria upazila of Shariatpur district. It would wipe out Naria upazila from Bangladesh map. More than: 2,000 houses, 500 business centers, several schools, mosques, temple and other establishments have been washed away by the consequences of aggressive river erosion. The river is threatening increasingly more areas. A1.50km area, from Naria Banshtola to Purba Naria, was washed away by the river in the last couple of days— but the authorities concerned paid no head on it, locals said. At least 12 hospital buildings are at risk of being washed away at any time. Although the erosion is ongoing for the last couple of years, no initiative to build a dam or embankment was taken by the local administration, claimed by the locals. They also claimed the government should declare the area a disaster zone. UNO Sanjida Yeasmin said she told the higher authorities to declare the area a disaster zone. The Padma River is in a rising trend and speedy current is engulfing houses and establishments rapidly in the Naria upazila. The erosion swallowed houses, schools, dams, roads, business establishments, mosques, in the last few days while positive initiatives by the authorities concerned were not visible to prevent the erosion, locals alleged. The residents of river bank are going through days of fear of further erosion while several more houses are still at greater risk. Victims have to live under the open sky as their dwellings were washed away by floodwaters. They face huge losses as their croplands have also been washed away. Now, they are seeking assistance to erect their houses. The government has distributed relief among the flood victims in the affected areas, but these are not adequate, said the victims, adding that they are seeking financial assistance to build their dwellings.