Outlying areas of flood-hit districts including Feni, Noakhali and Comilla have been crying out for relief. A huge amount of relief is going to these areas from different places including Dhaka. But due to severe road connectivity and lack of adequate boats, food is not reaching the Banvasis who are stuck far and wide. Many people are taking pictures after distributing relief on the side of the main road.
Due to the lack of coordination, some around the city have received several rounds of relief, but many are getting nothing. Millions of people could not go to shelters. They are staying under open sky on house roof or high place. Meanwhile, they ran out of food and clean water. They are spending their days in endless suffering without getting relief.
Meanwhile, water-borne diseases have also spread in many areas. Outbreak of diarrhea has been seen in some shelters including Feni, Chauddagram. Although the flood water has receded in some areas, the water is increasing in the areas through which the water is flowing. The victims say that many houses have been destroyed by the flood, furniture has been washed away, many tools have been damaged by the water. Because of this, they need food, clean water, dry clothes, water purification tablets as well as cash for house repairs.
Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md. Kamrul Islam said that more than 49 lakh people have been affected in 11 districts so far due to ongoing floods in the country. 18 people have died so far. However, the flood situation is gradually improving.
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Feni and Sonagazi: Fulgazi, Parashuram, Sonapur south of New Rani Hat, South Abupur, Elahiganj, Kumira and other parts of the district have not seen any relief. Little food and water reached these areas by relatives outside the district or by private initiative. However, even though many have brought relief, they are unable to reach remote areas due to severe road connectivity and lack of boats. Moreover, the distribution of relief was also seen to be uncoordinated.
Locals say that those who bring relief from different places including Dhaka need the cooperation of the administration. Because they come suddenly and hesitate about which area of the district to go to. Moreover, boats are required to go to remote areas. But in this case they are not getting any support from the administration. As a result, many people are leaving for relief in the surrounding areas of the city. Due to the lack of coordination, some of the victims have received several rounds of relief but many are getting nothing.
Thousands of Banvasis have taken shelter in various buildings including Feni Jaykali Temple, Government Model Primary School, Nahar Garden City, Feni Model High School and Central High School. Many of them said they are not getting any relief.
Meanwhile, some well-known volunteers are rescuing people by boat in the district and grabbing a huge amount of money. On Friday, Salauddin and his ten-year-old son Iqbal, a migrant, were transported to the city from a distance of 30 rickshaws and collected 10,000 taka.
Comilla, Burichong, Brahmanpara and Titus: 8 unions of Burichong upazila and around 170 villages are affected by floods. Hundreds of people are rushing from different areas including Dhaka to give relief materials to the victims. But people in remote areas are deprived of these reliefs. Due to the lack of necessary boats and speedboats, the people of various donor organizations are not able to take the relief materials.
Hundreds of relief truck pickups were seen in Bharsar Bazar, Ichapura, Mahishmara and Burburia areas of the upazila. In this, people of five to seven villages are getting sufficient amount of relief aid and food items. A large amount of food is stored in some shelters in these areas. But relief is not going to about 150 villages in the affected area.
The people of the affected areas have complained that no action has been taken by the local administration. Abdul Mannan, a resident of Kalikapur area of the upazila, said, “We have not received the relief materials yet. Everyone stood on the side of the road and distributed the relief materials.
The 18-feet long culvert constructed on Kalakandi to Kadamtuli road in Kalakandi union of Titas upazila broke due to the strong flow of flood water. Along with that, some parts of the road have disappeared due to water. Hundreds of people in that area are in trouble. Many villages of Brahmanpara upazila have been flooded again.
Brahmanbaria: Roads collapsed at least 8 places including two embankments of Howrah river in Ariyal and Khalapara areas due to floods. Traffic on these roads is closed. The commercial activities of Akhaura land port are still closed due to the disconnection of communication. Besides, passenger crossing through Akhaura International Immigration Checkpost is also closed.
Meanwhile, the locals have complained that relief is not going to various remote areas including Anandpur, Satpara, Kendayi, Khalapara of Akhaura. A woman named Hanufa Begum at the Abdulahpur shelter said, “Many of our houses have been destroyed.” Now we need cash as well as relief.
Akhaura upazila executive officer Ghazala Parveen Ruhi said that the flood situation in Akhaura is gradually improving. Water is receding from houses. Meanwhile, around 32 villages of Bayek and Gopinathpur unions bordering Kasbai have been flooded. They are unable to leave their homes. Many people are getting sick due to lack of food.
Kasba Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Mohammad Shahriar Muktar said that 10 metric tons of rice and 400 packets of dry food have already been arranged.
Khagrachari and Ramgarh: The flood situation in the district headquarters has improved. People have started returning home from shelters. However, most of Merung Union of Dighinala is still waterlogged. At least more than 20 grams are under water. Longdur road communication with Khagrachari is closed due to lack of water from the road in Merung headquarters area.
A teenage girl named Rusa Chakma drowned in Kabulya Karbaripara on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, many distressed residents of Ramgarh have taken shelter in houses, big trees and high hills. They are living a subhuman life due to lack of food and clean water.
Chittagong and Mirsarai: 2 lakh 62 thousand people have been affected in 11 upazilas of the district. Thousands of people are still trapped in water. Among them, most people have been affected in Fatikchari, Mirsarai and Hathazari upazilas. 2 lakh 7 thousand people have been affected in these three upazilas. The district administration has allocated 1 thousand 3 metric tons of rice for the affected people. More than 455 metric tons of rice has already been distributed.
11 thousand 63 people have taken shelter in different educational institutions in Mirsarai upazila. In addition, various individuals and institutions have provided shelter to another 5,000 people through private initiative. These people are spending inhuman days due to lack of adequate food and water.
Kamalnagar and Ramgati (Laxmipur): About 50 thousand people of Charkadira, Torabganj, Charlrens of Kamalnagar upazila and Charporagachha, Charbadam, Charramiz and Barakheri of Ramgati upazila have become waterlogged. Many residential houses, rural roads and educational institutions in these areas have been submerged in water.
Aman paddy seedbeds, vegetable fields have sunk. Kamalnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer UNO Suchitra Ranjan Das said that the program of distribution of dry food is continuing among water-bound families.
Noakhali: 82 unions and 7 municipalities of the district are affected by floods. At least 36,000 people have taken shelter in various schools, colleges, madrasas and homes of rich people. There are 502 government registered shelters. There is a shortage of food and clean water in the shelters. It is reported that the required food has not reached 200 till Saturday afternoon.
Kamalganj and Kulaura (Moulvibazar): Inspite of hardships, people in Kamalganj smiled on Saturday. Because the sun is out and the flood situation is also improving. Water has started receding from the flooded area. But as the water recedes, the picture of damage is becoming clearer. Flood victim Machum Mia said everything was swept away by the flood. Houses were destroyed by the currents and waves. Now I am thinking how to repair them. We need cash. Sajina Begum said, our houses have been damaged by the flood. We demand from the government to help us to make the house suitable for living.
Habiganj and Chunarughat: The flood situation has improved in the district. The waters of all the rivers have fallen below the water mark. One thousand 880 hectares of bona aush land has been damaged in Chunarughat. There is a fear that the rice plants of these lands will be completely damaged if the flood water does not recede completely.
