Thousands of people in at least 100 villages in coastal districts of Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna have become marooned following damage of embankments in monsoon rains and high tides.
Water Development Board (WDB) sources on Tuesday said that water from the Meghna River entered the villages following collapse of the flood control dykes in several upazilas of the districts. Most of embankments were in bad shape following cyclone ‘Mahasen’, ‘Sidor’ and ‘Aila’. Those embankments did not get due attention for repair, local sources said.
In Bhola, the worst affected villages in Monpura upazila are Kulagazir Taluk, Kauar Tek, Iswar Ganj, Hajir Char, Char Faijuddin, Char Jatin, Taltola, Char Goalia and South Sakuchia. Water from the Meghna River entered the villages through the open flood control dyke in South Sakuchia and Monpura unions, eyewitnesses told the media.
Water Development Board (WDB) did not give due attention for timely repair of damaged embankments and dykes in different points of the island district, local people said.
Ten kilometres of the embankment were washed away in phases following the recent cyclones ‘Mahasen’ that swept the area. As a result, water from the Meghna entered through the damaged portion of the embankment during new moon and full moon. This time, ahead of the full moon, villages in Kachia, Dhania and Ilisha unions of Bhola Sadar upazila went under several feet of water during the last couple of days. As a result large number of people are facing untold miseries.
At Charfashion upazila, the affected villages are Mohammadpur, Hamidpur, Char Newton, Char Afzal, East Madras, Miajan Pur, Ayeshabag, Aslampur, Jahanpur, Omrabaz, East and West Hazariganj and Mafijabad. Water entered the villages through the breached portion of the flood control dyke that has remained without repair for one year, some local people said adding several villages of Daulatkhan upazila have also been submerged.
Abdul Hekim, Executive Engineer of the Bhola WDB talking to the media said with the advent of the monsoon it has become difficult to conduct repair work of the dykes in the upazilas. The repair work of the dykes, he said, would start following recession of flood water.
In Patuakhali, several villages have been flooded in Kalapara Upazila following the erosion of a flood control embankment under the impact of tidal surge. Thousands of acres of agricultural land in 13 villages have gone under saline water. The alternative dyke was built only two months ago at a cost of Tk 13 crore, a source in Kalapara WDB said.
Due to heavy rainfall in the last two days and the impact of full moon, water levels in different rivers and canals in the district have marked significant rise causing damage to crops and dwellings. Many areas in Patuakhali town, including Katpatti, Chawkbazar, Charpara, Nutan Bazar, Women’s College Road, Puran Bazar, Shimulbagh, Muslimpara, Adalatpara, Nawabpara, Centre Para and launchghat area, have been badly affected in monsoon rains.
Patuakhali Municipality Mayor Dr Md Shafiqul Islam said that tidal water entered the town, as construction work of the town protection dyke could not be completed properly. “We asked the officials of the Water Development Board to take immediate measures to save the town,” he said.
In Barguna, water level has increased by two to three feet from regular ebb tide in different areas of the district, locals said. At least 50 villages including Barguna municipal area have been badly hit by floods. Out of 907 KM town embankment at least 280 suffered extensive damage earlier in Sidr and cyclone Mahasen. Those damaged areas were not properly repaired, said Barguna Municipal Mayor Shahadat Hossain.
Abdul Malek, Executive Engineer WDB of Barguna said if fund is placed, they would take repair work on urgent basis.
