Staff Reporter, Sirajganj :
At least 6 lakh people of 1,34,577 families under 47 unions out of 82 in nine upazilas of Sirajganj district have completely and partially harmed by the recent flood, continued for around two weeks. Alongside, a good number of homesteads, crops, roads and educational institutions have badly damaged by the flood.
Sources of District Relief and Rehabilitation Office (DRRO) in Sirajganj said that, around 134577 families of 524 villages in 10 unions of Shahzadpur upazila, seven unions in Ullapara upazila, seven unions in Chowhali upazila, six unions in Belkuchi upazila, 10 unions in Kazipur upazila and seven unions in Sadar upazila were harmed by the flood. Similarly, around 5330 households were completely damaged, while 60829 more were partially damaged in the flood.
District Education Office (DEO) sources said that, 69 educational institutes have completely damaged, while 487 others have partially damaged in which the educational activities of the students are being hampered. The officials stressed the need for necessary steps to immediate restoration of the academic atmosphere in the schools. On the other hand, around 112 Km roads and highways of the district have fully damaged, while 227 Km roads and highways of the area have damaged partially.
Agriculture Extension Department (AED) sources said that, crops including T-Aman paddy, Aush paddy, jute, banana, seedbeds and vegetables of around 15,000 hectares of lands in seven upazilas in the Jamuna basin areas have spoiled drastically.
Wali Uddin, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer in Sirajganj said that, a total of 790 metric tons of rice and Tk 34.77 lakh have already distributed among the flood affected people in the areas. Alongside, demand note has been sent to the concerned authorities seeking necessary initiatives to rehabilitate the harmed people.
Shahidul Islam, District Primary Education Officer told that, educational activities were stopped at 419 primary schools as the flood water inundated the school grounds. Besides, the second terminal exam was also suspended in the schools following the flooding.
The educational institutions have now started operation by turn. Meanwhile, directive to take exam at convenient time has given to the upazila education officers. He further said, he has sent demand letters to the concerned high-ups authorities to restore the damaged institutes. Dr Amar Ali, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department in Sirajganj said that, they have produced an assessment of the affected farmers and measure of their damage and it has sent to the concerned Agricultural Ministry for taking necessary measures. He hopes that, the government will take initiatives immediately to rehabilitate the harmed farmers.
BSS from Faridpur adds: Floodwater inundated crops on 650 hectares of land in four upazilas of the district with an estimated damage of Taka 2cr.
DAE sources said crops under four unions-Narkelbaria, Char Nasirpur, Char Manair and Akoter Char-were completely damaged in the recent flood. The damaged crops include broadcast Amon, transplanted Amon and various kinds of vegetables. Thousands of farmers have been directly affected by the flood, the sources added.
Besides, Sadarpur upazila of the district was also affected due to erosion of river Padma and Arial Khan.
The road communication system under Charbhadrasan upazila broke down badly as about 30 kilometers of kutcha road of the four unions were completely damaged.
The flood water also washed away about 200 metres of pucca embankments and a portion of the main road connecting district headquarters.
However, district administration and some non-government agencies are providing relief materials including food, drinking water and medicines among the flood-affected people.
