Sylhet Correspondent :
Acute fodder crisis, coupled with an outbreak of diseases, is forcing people in the flood-affected Sylhet Region to sell off their livestock.
The affected people have been left with no alternative but to start selling their livestock as the flood situation stayed unchanged on Sunday.
Vast areas of land still remain submerged in water, with the price of rice husks and straw going up every day.
Although the flood has stayed for over two weeks in northeastern region and for several days in northern Bangladesh, livestock officers there said that they could not offer a complete picture of the situation yet. Acute fodder crisis, coupled with an outbreak of diseases, is forcing people in the flood-affected Sylhet took a serious turn.
Vast areas of land still remain submerged in water, with the price of rice husks and straw going up every day.
The chairman of Osmanpur union in the flood-hit Osmani Nagar upazila said that many in his union had to sell their livestock at half the actual price.
The district livestock officer, Nurul Islam, said they started distributing fodder and medicines in the affected areas Sunday.
In Moulvibazar, the district livestock officer, Hedayet Ullah, said that of fodder crisis and breaking out of diseases such as diarrhoea and foot and mouth prompted him to request a supply of 7,510 tones of cattle food and 21 types of medicines from the headquarters.
ÔI cannot wait anymore for the help to arrive,Õ said Chhatir Mia, a farmer in BorlekhaÕs Bholarkandi village.
He and his family shared a single room with their four cows and five goats since being hit by the flood three weeks ago. Two of the cows contacted diarrhoea several days ago. All the five goats are suffering from foot and mouth disease too.
ÔI will look out for a buyer to sell the animals,Õ said Chhatir. Almost all of the 13 cows and goats owned by his three neighbors are also suffering either from diarrhea and foot and mouth disease.
ÔOver 90 per cent households owning livestock in our area are faced with the similar situation,Õ said Abdur Rahim, another farmer in Bholarkandi village.
According to the district livestock office, in the 35 unions completely affected by the flood, there are 1,71,330 cows, 33,033 buffaloes, 5,00,753 goats and 7,348 lambs.
Staff Reporter from Rangpur adds : Incessant rain and flow of upstream water caused flash flood and marooned hundreds of people, houses and crop lands, in seven unions of Gongachara, upazilla including Kawnia and Pirgacha upazillas of the district.
Many embankments and dyke of the upazilla went under threat due to the current in the river. People living in char areas and low lands became the worst affected. Heavy rain and flow of upstream water in Teesta River flooded around fifteen thousand people in fifty villages of seven unions- Nohali, Kolkond, Gongachara, Laxitari, Gojoghanta in Gongachara, upazilla of the district. Houses, roads and crop lands were inundated.
Nohali UP chairman of the upazilla, Abul Kalam Azad said, about two thousands families in his union were marooned. Roads, houses and crop lands went under water.
Kolkond union Chairman, Sohorab Hossain Razu said, around four thousand people in nine villages of the union have been affected. Houses, roads and crop lands were marooned.
Principal, Southpara Islamia Multilateral Alim Madrasha at Kolkond union of the Upazilla said,, the roads to Madrasha were damaged in many parts due to sudden flood. Students remained absent in the institute.
Upazilla Nirbahai Officer, Gongachara, Aminul Islam said, flash flood caused in some areas of the upazilla as the Teesta River was flowing above danger level. We visited flood affected areas of the upazilla. People living in char area and low lands became the victim. We sent a requisition to the concerned seeking immediate relief support for the victim families. We also directed all UP chairmen of the upazilla to look after the flood affected people in their unions.
Deputy Commissioner, Rangpur, Mohammad Waheduzaman said, we are aware of the situation and prepared to take all sorts of measures and support.
Executive engineer of Water development Board, Rangpur at Dalia Barrage, Mostafizur Rhaman said, the water level in Teesta was flowing above thirty two centimeter danger level at Dalia point on Monday morning. All 44 gates of the Dalia barrage were opened to control the water level.
Meanwhile, Teesta was flowing under two centimeter of the danger level at Kawnia upazilla rail and road bridge point. Flood water also inundated many houses, roads and crop lands in some villages beside the river of the upazilla.
Sub-assistant engineer, Water Development Board, Rangpur, Aminul Islam said, Teesta was flowing under two centimeter of the danger level at the bridge point. The river water, however has been increasing.
The damage of the crop lands, however, could not be estimated, according to the DAE, Rangpur.
