Flood-hit victims of Hakaluki haor still in distress

Noorjahan Begum and her three children have been living in a flood shelter for almost a month since their house on Hakaluki Haor in Moulvibazar district was battered by high tides.

After returning to the place where her house once stood intact, in Madangauri village, Noorjahan found the home was on the verge of destruction.

"We can't sleep at night in fear of the 'Afal [high tide]'. It might return anytime and completely devour our home," she said.

Popy Begum, of Kalershar village in the haor, said, "Around 20-25 children take boats to go to a school in a neighbouring village as we have none of our own. But due to the high tide, they are unable to do so now."

The people of Hakaluki Haor are still suffering as many houses and roads in the area have been flooded.

Families are struggling to sustain themselves as most of their household items were either destroyed or washed away.

Nibedan Chandra Das, another resident on the haor, said, "Everything in my house, including the fences around it, was destroyed. I cannot rebuild my house without the government's help."

Ripon Das, a resident of Barlekha's Talimpur union, said, "While some are worried about the unexpected return of the Afal, others are trying their best to rebuild their homes. However, the ones who have lost everything are left stranded on their own."

Shaidul Hasan Shipon, general secretary of Kulaura Journalists' Association, said the flood victims in various areas of Hakaluki Haor are waiting for support.

Jahangir Ali, a resident of Barlekha upazila's Sujanagor area, said the water levels drop if the rain stops for a couple of days. However, with the rain coming back every few days, the area becomes more prone to landslides.

It rains heavily in the haor during the months of Ashar and Bhadra, locals said.

To protect the area, bamboo fences have to be erected every year, said Mizanur Rahman, a resident of Kulaura's Bhuksimoil area. He had spent Tk 15,000 to protect his house from the flood.

"Both my house and the yard, however, were damaged. Where will I get the money to repair all this again?" he asked.

Rajan Ahmed, general secretary of Haor Raksha committee in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila, said, "The haor was home to numerous Hijol and Karach trees, which protected the residents from the waves. With the trees declining in number, the high waves hit the settlements directly."

Mir Nahid Ahsan, deputy commissioner of the area, has been visiting the flood-hit regions continuously to help the people.

"The district and upazila administrations will provide all assistance, including rehabilitation of the affected people during the post-flood period," said the DC.