Flood ravages croplands, houses

Around 73,400 houses and 36,000 hectares of crops have been damaged by recent floods in 21 districts, causing thousands of people to suffer.

Of the houses, around 4,000 have been completely damaged, while the other houses were partially damaged.

Of the croplands, over 500 hectares are completely damaged and around 34,500 hectares only partially.

The damage was calculated based on the statistics released by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, reports our correspondents in different districts.

The districts affected by the flood are Chattogram, Bandarban, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sylhet, Bogura, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Brahmanbaria, Sherpur, Tangail, Jamalpur and Sirajganj.

In terms of household damages, Gaibandha is the worst affected. In the district, 25,930 houses were partially damaged, according to the ministry’s report.

On the other hand, maximum areas of cropland -- around 10,000 hectares -- were damaged in Rangamati.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) forecasted that the flood situation in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajganj, Tangail, Manikganj and Faridpur may deteriorate today.

However, the situation may improve in Netrokona, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar.

The water levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma rivers may continue to rise in the next 48 hours, while the Padma river at Bhagyakul point may cross its danger level today, according to the FFWC bulletin.

The FFWC monitored river conditions at 93 river stations across the country. Of these, 23 stations showed that water was flowing above danger levels.

Meanwhile, rail communication between Gaibandha and other districts remained shut since around 11:00am as the rail track was submerged in Sadar upazila’s Trimohoni area.

Thousands of people were suffering due to the floods across the country.

“My house, furniture and all other household items have been washed away by water from the Dharla river. I am now homeless,” said Ziaul Rahman, 32, a resident of Kumarpur village in Kurigram’s Sadar upazila.

Razia Begum, a resident of Aurar Para char in Bogura’s Sariakandi upazila, said, “We cultivated jute in eight hectares of land. But the sudden flood has washed away our jutes. We cannot understand how will we recover the loss.”

In Naogaon’s Manda upazila, the flood-control embankment on the right bank of Atrai river breached early yesterday, causing floods in low-lying areas of at least eight villages.

People of hilly areas have also fallen victims to floods.

U Chai Marma, a resident of Bandarban town, said, “My house is totally damaged in the flood. I don’t have any money to repair it. I don’t know how my family will survive the upcoming days under the open sky.”

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed yesterday said the armed forces were ready to help if the flood situation worsens, reports UNB.

He made the remark while replying to a question at the end of the first session of the deputy commissioners’ conference yesterday.

General Aziz said they have informed everyone that the Army, the Navy and the Air Force were ready to help if needed.

(Our correspondents from Rajshahi, Bandarban, Tangail, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Pabna, Nilphamari and Bogura contributed to the report.)