Abdullah Zobair :
Floodwater that already wreaked havoc in the country’s northeastern districts is now creeping into underdeveloped northern districts — Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat — due to torrential rain and overflowing downstream rivers in the areas. The water has been flowing above the danger levels at many points in Brahmaputra, Dharla, and Teesta rivers. High stream flow has triggered landslides and river erosion, and inundated the vast area of Kurigram. Around 200,000 people have been marooned in Kurigram alone. District administration, local government institutions, and non-government organizations have already started rescue operations, relief distributions, and awareness campaigns.
According to the local Water Development Board, the Dharla River was flowing 27 cm above its danger level at Setu point, while the Brahmaputra was flowing 32 cm above its red mark at Chilmari point at 6:00 am on Saturday. The low-lying and char areas of Kurigram Sadar, Ulipur, and Roumari Upazilas went underwater, while 65 educational institutions were shut due to the flood. Over 150 villages in nine upazilas of the district have flooded in the last three days as major rivers continue swell. Some 3,000 hectares of land have been submerged while a 20-22 feet long temporary flood protection embankment at Muriarhat of Nageshwari upazila collapsed on Saturday, flooding fresh areas.
River erosion in many parts of the district has taken a severe turn and the sufferings of the flood-hit people have intensified due to acute shortage of food and pure drinking water. Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rashedul Hasan said they have visited the flood-hit areas and distributed 500 packets of dry food in the Sadar upazila.
“We have enough relief materials in stock,” he said.
Abdul Hye Sarkar, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said Tk 2 million and 400 metric tonnes of rice have been kept for distribution among the flood-affected people in the district.
With district administration, NGOs like Friendship have been working to reach people in safer places like shelter centers, and plinth level, providing relief and making people aware of how to stay safe during floods.
Ayesha Taasin Khan, senior director of Inclusive Citizenshipof Friendship NGO, said “our community paralegals and governance aides are working days and nights to make people aware of flood preparedness, child marriage, and violence against women and children as women and children become vulnerable during any disaster.” She asked Union Parishad, district administration, affluent people, and NGOs to work coherently to serve the flood-affected people and their rehabilitation after the flood water recession.
