Md. Salim Hossain, Jessore :
Selim Raza, a business man of Nawapara industrial area was compelled to leave his Shorkhola based parental residence along with pets. Twelve members of the family took shelter at his Nawapara town based residence as water grabbed his residence under Nawapara Municipality.
But Mamata Biswas of Sujatpur village under Monirampur upazila has no alternative. She had to stay at her residence along with other family members surrounded by water.
Around seven lakh people of Bhabadah affected Abhaynagar, Monirampur and Keshabpur upazilas and three municipalities became marooned as water has grabbed their homes, croplands, educational institutions, temples, mosques and roads. People of the areas have to endure untold sufferings with no or half foods. Their pet animals also lost their living places.
Selim Reza told he shifted his cattle and other pets to distance place at the residence of a relative about 10 kilometres off his residence.
Poritosh Biswas, former chairman of Sundali union council under Abhaynagar upazila and also businessman and locals told that a vast area of land under the three upazilas affected by Bhabadah went under deep water directly affecting around 7 lakh people of over 100 villages. ‘They are now living in deplorable conditions with no food or half and lack of pure drinking water’, he added.
Dr Humayun Kabir, Deputy Commissioner, Jessore, earlier, told that a vast area of land in Jessore went under water due to the recent rainfall. ‘A number of fish enclosures and ponds were affected in the rain’, he added.
The rule of water was seen while visiting several villages under Bhabadah affected areas in Jessore on Monday.
Sharif Rayhan Kabir, upazila nirbahi officer, Keshabpur told that ten thousand people of seven union councils and a municipality under the upazila were affected due to water logging problem causing a loss of Tk 20 crore in agricultural sector and fish of Tk 37 core. ‘Some 3000 thatched houses were damaged,’ he added.
Eleven metric tonnes rice were allocated as relief for the affected people, he said.
A number of primary and secondary schools and colleges remained shut as water grabbed the institutions.
Joy Druta Biswas of Sundali village told that water grabbed the floor of his residence. ‘There was no dry place I my house’, he added while describing the situation at his tea-stall at Sundali Bazar under Abhaynagar upazila on Monday.
‘We do not have a dry place to cook food’, he added,’ we are living on cots’. He also told that the nearby schools and colleges were declared closed by the authorities due to water.
Dilip Sarkar of Dohakola village under Monirampur upazila told that water is now ruling everywhere at his house. ‘We are now in deplorable condition’, he added, ‘water kept my daughter Chaitee of class -VI to say at home at the time of school’.
Condition of Sunil Mondol of Gobibdapur village under Abhaynagar is same. ‘Nobody came to see our condition’, he added.
While visiting the residence of Suruchi Das of Sujatpur village under Monirampur upazila on Saturday, it was seen that water submerged all the 10 houses of her and her relatives. ‘I did not have any food since last night as there was no dry place to cook’, she told. ‘We spend sleepless night fearing snakes in the dark’, she further told.
Elderly man Narayan Chandra Mallik along with his wife Ranjita Mallik was seen living on Moshihati- Nawapara Road at Sujatpur village due to lack of living place.
Ashim Mondol, teacher of the Department of English, Moshihati Degree College under Monirampur upazila said attendance of students is very poor here in my college.
Water was seen inside the residences of Abhimunnu Bairagi of Sujatpur village, Arabindu Halder of Dahar Mashihati village under Abhaynagar upazila, Beauty Bairagi of the same village, Parul Bairagi of Baje Kultia village under Monirampur village and Selim Reza of Shorkhola village under Abhaynagar upazila.
