We’re deeply worried that the incessant rain and onrush of water from the upstream have deteriorated the flood situation in the country’s north-east Sylhet region for the second time within a week. While the whole Sylhet is affected by the deadly flood, the situation in Sunamganj is especially devastating, with the Surma and Kushiyara Rivers flowing above danger level. Not only Sylhet, Kurigram and vast stretches of the northern part of the country have also submerged as water surged in the Teesta. Besides, districts of the central region are also at risk of flooding.
Media reports from the Sylhet region paint a grim picture, a vast number of roads, houses and croplands inundated, people either trapped in water or taking shelter in the flood centres, poor access to food and other basic necessities, and no electricity in many flood-hit areas. Around 70 lakh people of this region have become marooned and they do not have any dry place to take shelter. Even many people are reportedly starving. In short, the suffering that all this has caused is hard to describe. Members of the Bangladesh Army are working to evacuate the people in the upazilas of Sunamganj. However, the participation of local representatives and lawmakers in relief distribution among the flood-hit people was hardly witnessed.
Meanwhile, Sunamganj’s communication with other parts of the country has become cut off as the Sylhet-Sunamganj Highway had gone under water. Almost all upazilas of Sunamganj have been submerged. As a result, five upazilas have been cut off from the district town. However, the rail communication between Sylhet and Dhaka, which was snapped earlier, was restored yesterday. But the flight operation at Sylhet Osmani International Airport has remained suspended.
It is to be noted that the country’s ponds, canals and haors, which once traditionally served as reservoirs holding the excess water from floods, have all but vanished in recent decades, thanks to mindless development, urbanisation and flawed government policies. Many of the rivers have also been encroached, and consequently dry up during the summer and overflow after above-average rainfall.
Now the immediate challenge is to deliver relief and medicine and restore normal life in the flood-hit areas. Along with carrying out evacuation work, relief goods should be sent to the affected areas soon. Dry food needs to be served to the flood victims. Concerned authorities must work to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases. We hope people’s representatives must come forward in this crisis moment. Non-Government Organisations working can be attached to the rescue and relief activities.
