UNB :
Around 400 houses across four villages of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj have been gulped by the Jamuna river in the past one week, officials said on Friday.
“Some 400 houses, including 30 of the Ashryan project, have tumbled into the river. Pakurtala Primary School, a mosque and other buildings on the riverbank are now at risk,” said Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional engineer of Sirajganj Water Development Board.
“The receding waters of the Jamuna river are causing erosion,” he said.
The WDB engineer said that Shahjadpur, Chauhali, Belkuchi, Kazipur, and Sirajganj Sadar upazila’s low-lying and char areas still remained flooded on Friday.
“Many of the important roads also remained under water, disrupting vehicular movement. People are also facing drinking water crisis,” he added.
Similarly, around 9,106 hectares of Ropa Aman, jute, sesame and other crops have been damaged in the flooded region of the district, according to an officer of district agricultural extension department.
Shahjadpur upazila nirbahi officer Tariqul Islam said he has already informed the WDB about the extreme erosion and the need for taking adequate steps.
Water levels in the flood-hit Kurigram district have started receding, officials said on Friday.
While the Teesta and the Dharla are flowing below the danger mark, the Brahmaputra is still flowing at 5cm above the red level at Chilmari point, according to the Kurigram Water Development Board.
With floodwaters receding, the miseries of the residents of the char areas in the district have increased.
According to district administration sources, 328 educational institutions have been shut for a week due to the ongoing floods.
Besides, crops on 15,800 hectares of land have been damaged due to the floods.
In many areas, the flood survivors are crying for relief. Apart from facing food crisis, they need pure drinking water, fuel and fodder.
Many in remote areas have complained of not getting relief. People’s representatives said it was not possible to reach everyone as relief was not commensurate with the demand.
Sadar Upazila Panchgachhi UP chairman Abdul Baten said that at least 5,000 poor families in his union were affected by the floods, “but so far, they have got nine metric tonnes of rice as relief. “Only 900 families can be provided with 10 kgs of rice.”However, Kurigram deputy commissioner Mohammad Rezaul Karim claimed there was adequate relief for the flood survivors. “Everyone will get relief in phases.”
