Relief still scarce

With the flood situations unchanged in most of the northern districts and the central region being inundated, many affected people from Bogra, Sylhet and Kurigram complain about insufficient relief.

Different chars under three upazilas of Faridpur were inundated yesterday as the Padma was flowing 21 centimetres over the danger level at Goalanda point. Reports from Manikganj say the water level in all rivers is rising.

The overall flood situation improved a little in Jamalpur and Kurigram and remained static in Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Bogra, report our district correspondents.

According to the latest bulletin of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Padma and Kushiyara rivers were rising yesterday and the water levels of the Brahmaputra, Jamuna and Surma were falling.

The bulletin said the Padma might continue rising for the next 48 hours and the Kushiyara for next 24 hours. The Surma might remain steady and the Brahmaputra and Jamuna might witness decline in the next 72 hours, added the bulletin issued at 9:00am yesterday.

Of the 90 monitoring stations, water was flowing over the danger mark at 16 points, said the bulletin. The water level rose at 49 points and dropped at 38 points, one point remained steady and six points remained unreported.

INADEQUATE RELIEF IN BOGRA, SYLHET, KURIGRAM

Many flood victims sought relief in Sylhet as they remained marooned for weeks.

Rajna Begum, a middle-aged woman from Lama Gavurtiki village in Osmaninagar upazila, said her family had been affected weeks ago but did not get any relief yet.

“How can we survive? We do not have anything to eat, nowhere to move, no work to do,” she said.

Several thousand people from Osmaninagar, Fenchuganj, Beanibazar, Golapganj and Balaganj upazilas in Sylhet have been looking for relief.

Those who have received relief from the administration or other voluntary associations considered that very insufficient.

The district administration says they have distributed 277 tonnes of rice and Tk 5.55 lakh among the affected people and have plans to distribute 150 tonnes of rice and Tk 1.75 lakh more.

On relief scarcity, Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet, said they were trying their level best to reach everyone in need of relief.

In Bogra, many affected from Shariakandi, Dhunat and Sonatala upazilas also alleged of insufficient relief.

Widow Maleka Khatun, 50, of Dholirkandi in Shariakandi upazila was forced to take shelter on the old river control embankment at Mothurapara Bazar on July 3.

Flood-hit people line up for relief goods in Deputy Bazar area of Golapganj upazila of Sylhet yesterday. The relief materials were distributed by Khulna Bibhagio Kalyan Samity, a welfare organisation. Photo: Sheikh Nasir

“I have yet to get any relief,” said Maleka, adding, she had two slices of bread with her last penny yesterday and did not know what she would have today.

Mizanur Rahamn, a member of Kutubpur Union Parishad, said he had got relief for 25 families against 200-250 families in need.

Belal Hossain Talukder, chairman of Bhandarbari UP, said he had distributed rice and dry food among 2,300 people, but 500 people were still waiting for relief when his supply finished.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nur-e Alam Siddique said 285 tonnes of rice, Tk 3.5 lakh and 2,000 packets of dry food were distributed among the victims.

In Kurigram, at least 1.78 lakh people of 548 villages under nine upazilas have been affected with around 1.55 lakh marooned, according to the district disaster management, relief and rehabilitation office.

Flood victim Jahanara said they had no work to do. She got 20kg rice in separate distribution which was all consumed, she added.

Jattrapur UP Cairman Kayum Ali Sarkar said, “Around 5,800 families have been marooned in my union. But I have been given insufficient relief compared to the demand.”

FARIDPUR AFFECTED, MANIKGANJ UNDER THREAT

Flood hit different char villages in Faridpur as the Padma was flowing above the danger level.

Floodwater inundated low-lying areas of North-Chanel and Decre Char unions in Sadar upazila, Char Harirampur, Gazir Tek and Char Jhaukanda under Charvaration upazila and Charnasirpur union of Sadarpur upazila.

Shadekuzzaman, chairman of Decre Char UP, said about 400 acres of Aman and Aus paddy field in three villages had gone under water.

In Sadarpur upazila, a government primary school at Charnasirpur union is under threat as the land is being eroded by the Arial Kha river.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Roksana Rahman has visited the school and asked the authorities to shift the institution.

In Manikganj, the water level of the Padma and Jamuna rivers was on the rise yesterday.

Executive Engineer of WDB Hasan Mahmud said the water level was increasing in all internal rivers, including the Kaliganga, Dhaleshwari, Gazikhali and Ichhamoti in the district.

Low-lying areas of the district were being inundated, he added.