Our Correspondent :
The low lying areas of Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna have been inundated due to heavy rains, upstream water, full moon and gusty winds. According to the Water Development Board, the water level of Nayabhangani, Bishkhali, Payra, Meghna and Tetulia rivers is continuously increasing.
Every day for the last one week there has been an increase in water. As a result, at least 30 of the 40 chars in Bhola have been flooded up to 5/6 feet in some cases. In addition, the low lying areas have been flooded.
Nasir Majhi of Bhola Sadar, Char Nizam of Monpura Upazila, Char Kalatali, Charjatin, Kukri Mukri ,Dhalchar ,Char Patila of Char Fashion, have been flooded. Kalapara of Patuakhali and low lying areas of Amtali and Taltoli upazilas of Barguna district have been flooded.
Deepak Ranjan Das, Executive Engineer, Barisal Water Development Board, said no water had overflowed due to embankment. However, the water of almost all main rivers has been overflowing from the danger level for the last one week.
Locals said the water level had risen from two feet to about six feet due to the rise. As a result, the people of the low-lying areas have been hit hard which has caused huge losses to agriculture and fisheries.
Abul Hashem Mahajan, chairman of Kukri-Mukri Union Parishad of Char Fashion Upazila in Bhor district, said the area outside the Kukri-Mukri and Charpatila union has been flooded since July 23.
Ershad Machhi, a resident of Dhania area of Kukri-Mukri union of this Char Fashion Upazila, said that the whole union has been submerged in the tidal water.
A young man named Rakib of Monpura Upazila said that there was a huge increase in water in the isolated chars here.
Meanwhile, Alauddin Majhi of Bhola Sadar said that more than 100 fishermen from Tulatuli fishing village in Bholasadar could not go to the coastal area to catch fish due to high water level and strong winds.
Firoj Mia, a fisherman from Bhola Sadar, said they could not go fishing due to hostile weather.
Mahipur Matso Arotdar Samitee President Md.Mostafa said thousands of fishermen could not go to the sea due to strong winds and weave.
Belayet Machhi, a fisherman from Patharghata in Barguna, said that even though the 65-day ban was lifted, they did not get any benefit due to the hostile weather.
Muhammad Hasanuzzaman, Executive Engineer, Bhola, said the water level at Daulatkhan Point on the Meghna River has risen from 29 to 69 centimeters in the last seven days.
Hasan Mahmud, executive engineer Bhola-2 said the water level of Tetulia, Meghna river in the district has been rising from seven days, but so far the dam has not overflowed.
Anisur Rahman Talukder, deputy director of the Barishal Divisional Fisheries Office, said about four lakh fishermen of the division, including Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna, could not fishing the river or the sea to catch fish.
He said that due to the full moon on the one hand, heavy rains on the other hand, almost all the rivers of Barisal division have been inundated due to flood waters. Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, fishermen are not able to go fishing even after the ban is lifted.
He said that the increase in water has caused extensive damage to the fishery resources and work is underway to make a list.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agricultural Extension said that work is underway to assess the loss.
