Even though the flood situation in Kurigram is improving, but the plight of the flood-affected people hasn’t eased. There is still water in the low-lying areas of the district, and people can’t return to their houses because prolonged presence of floodwater has made them unliveable.
Besides, river erosion and damaged roads have exacerbated the sufferings of the people.
Abdullah Al Mamun, Executive Engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board (WDB), said that the overall flood situation in Kurigram has improved as water in the Dharla and Brahmaputra rivers is flowing below the danger mark.
Abdur Rashid, Deputy Director of Kurigram Agricultural Extension Department, said that crops cultivated in 16,000 hectares of land have been submerged in floodwater.
“Around 7,000 farmers have been affected by the flooding,” Rashid said.
Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram district, said that the government has distributed 538 tons of rice, 1,000 packets of dry food and Tk 36.5 lakh in cash among the flood victims as of yet.
“The relief distribution program is ongoing,” Rezaul said.
The government’s relief distribution program hasn’t been able to reduce the plight of the flood victims. People in inaccessible char areas haven’t received any relief yet. Around 325 schools that had shut down due to flooding haven’t opened till now.
Besides, river erosion is taking away the last remaining valuables of the flood-affected char people.
Haqer Char, a char in the middle of the Brahmaputra River, is witnessing severe river erosion. A total of nine families, including the family of Rafiqul Mistri, have lost their lands due to Brahmaputra’s aggressive onslaught.
“The Brahmaputa river has destroyed the homes of nine families within just two days. We had to change our location six times in the past. Currently, we’re going to another char to start our life once again. We’ve paid Tk 8,000 to the boatmen to shift our last remaining belongings. I have no idea how many more times we’ll have to change our address,” said Rafiqul.
Nazma Begum, another river erosion victim, said that her family doesn’t have anything to eat at this moment.
“We’re moving to a new char today. We’ll be able to eat only if anyone gives us something to eat there. Otherwise, we’ll have to starve,” said Nazma.
Not only houses but business establishments are also getting washed away in the rivers.
Md Juran, Mojibur Sheikh, and Kurfan Dewani, three residents of Bagua char under Saheber Alga union of Kurigram district, had set up a haat on three acres of land in last October. They had named it ‘Ananda Bazar’. The haat had a total of 35 shops, among which at least 15 have been absorbed by the Brahmaputra.
Abu Sayem, Member of ward no 7 of the union, said that there are five villages in Guzmari char (another char in the middle of the Brahmaputra).
“A total of 3,000 people used to live in this area, among them 151 families have lost their households due to river erosion. The local administration can’t provide any relief to these people due to insufficiency and the area’s hard-to-reach nature,” Sayem said.
Md Saiful, a farmer from the Babur Char area, said that he doesn’t have any work at this moment as all the arable lands have been submerged in floodwater.
“We are currently living on loans. We haven’t eaten any nutritious food in the past few weeks. The local administration hasn’t provided us with any relief in the past 15 days,” said Saiful.
A total of nine families from the area are passing through the same situation.
