The flood situation remained unchanged in several districts while it is being deteriorated in some other parts. Although the government claims that sufficient relief materials are being provided to the flood-affected districts, the affected people are crying for assistance as no relief material reached to them as yet. Secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Division Mesbah-ul-Alam on Sunday said that there were no shortage of rice and cash for the flood- affected people. He said that they have allocated at least 8,000 metric tons of rice and Tk 3 crore in cash in favour of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs). Those who are not getting the relief items, they should contact with the DCs in this regard, he said. The water level in 16 points of several rivers is flowing above 1 to 89 cm over the danger marks. The water flow in the Atrai River at Baghabari Point in Sirajganj is above 89 cm, while 62 cm in Dhaleshwari River at Elashin Hut Point in Tangail and 66 cm in Jamuna River at Sariakandi Point in Bogra. The secretary said that at least 14, 456 families in Jamalpur, 10,000 in Sirajganj, 6404 in Nilphamari, 2,319 in Kurigram, 1030 in Sunamganj and 8800 families in Bogra were affected by the flood. He said at least 11 districts have been affected by the flood. In Lalmonirhat, the flood situation worsened on Sunday. The water of Teesta River was flowing above 15 cm of the danger mark at Teesta Barrage Point of Dowani area at Hatibandha Upazila. The water flow was 12 cm on Saturday, reports our Lalmonirhat Correspondent. According to the officials of the Bangladesh Water development Board (WDB), the water of nine other rivers of the district, including Dharla, is also flowing only one to two cm below of danger marks at different points. The low-lying areas and chars at Teesta and Dharla basins at 80 villages under 16 unions of five upazilas of the district went under water due to continuous heavy downpour and onrush water from upstream. At least 80,000 people have been marooned in the areas. “It is first time that the flood situation at the Teesta basin is taking long time, while the flood situation is being deteriorated and fresh areas are being affected,” said Al-Mamun, Sub-Divisional Engineer in Lalmonirhat WDB.It was alleged that the flood affected people in the district are not getting proper help from the government. District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (additional charge) Nadim Sarowar said that he sent an emergency letter to the ministry concerned seeking 100 MT rice and Tk. 10 lakh in cash, but he didn’t get any respond till Sunday morning.Our Kurigram Correspondent reports that the overall flood situation remained unchanged in the district. More than 1.50 lakh people of 300 villages in 45 unions of char, island char and low lying areas under nine upazilas of the district have been marooned due to the flood. Ropa Aman fields, seedlings and vegetables on 30 thousand hectares of land have gone under flood water. Executive Engineer of WDB Kurigram Abu Taher said that the water level of the Brahmaputra River has been receded slightly but it is flowing 1 cm above danger mark at Chilmari Ghat point.About 200 meter area of flood control embankment at Kalirkura area under Raniganj union of Chilmari upazila washed away. WDB officials and villagers tried to protect it throwing sand bags. They were also protecting another embankment at Anantapur Bazar under Hatea union of Ulipur upazila. Fishes of about 100 ponds in Rajarhat upazila washed away.River erosion is also going on in many parts of Roumai, Rajibpur, Chilmari, Rajarhat, Ulipur, Kurigram Sadar, Bhurungamari, Phulbari and Nageswari upazilas forcing a good number of river side people homeless. Meanwhile, food and pure drinking water crisis was prevailing there. A good number of flood victims have not received any relief materials. Kurigram DC ABM Azad said that he has received Tk. 2 lakh in cash and 150 MT of rice to face flood situation which have already been distributed.In Chittagong, fishes worth Tk 15 crore was washed away from different water bodies under the Muhuri Project at Mirsarai upazila due to the onrush of water from hills triggered by heavy rainfall over the last few days.Local people said that the rainfall-inflicted onrush of water from the hills coupled with the tidal water have washed away the cultured fishes of 150-200 water bodies under the Muhuri Project, a fisheries project covering large area in the upazila. Mirsarai fisheries officer Abul Kalam Azad said that fish farms under the Muhuri Project were seriously affected by the flood. The income of about 400 fish farmers will be largely affected by the incident.Sources concerned said that a five kilometre-long embankment that was built along the Mirsarai part of the Feni river in 1985, had resulted in the emergence of vast char on the riverbed adjacent to the structure. Many people took lease lands on the char and built up fish farms.
