The erosion of the Dharla and the Brahmaputra destroyed hundreds of settlements in seven days and submerged thousands of hectares of crops
By Zeba Tarannum
Bangladesh News: The fifth phase of the flood situation in the current year has improved overall in Kurigram due to the water declining in the river. However, the people of the flood-affected lowlands and chars are still suffering.
And with the decline of water, river erosion has started. In the last one week, 343 houses in Bhogdanga, Jatrapur, and Mughal Basa of Sadar disappeared into the river of the Dharla and the Brahmaputra.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board official at Kurigram said on Friday (October 2nd) that the Brahmaputra River was flowing 4 cm above the danger level at Chilmari Point. However, the water level of other rivers, including the Dharla, the Teesta, and the Dudhkumar is below the danger level.
The cultured fish of 431 ponds have been washed away due to heavy rains and floods in the district. Crops of 18,450 hectares of land have been submerged in floodwater. These continuous floods led to an extreme food crisis by increasing the number of unemployed peoples.
Homeless people affected by river erosion and flood victims are flocking to the houses of people’s representatives in the hope of food aid. The people’s representatives are also anxious about them.
In the fifth phase of the flood, 60,000 people of the district have survived by fighting with floodwater. Water is flowing down from the submerged houses in the lowlands. But the misery of the exile of char of Dharla and the Brahmaputra river basins remains.
Md. Saidur Rahman, Chairman, Bhogdanga Union Council of Bhogdanga Upazila informed that in the last one week, 105 houses in the char (iland) area of Jagmahan had been washed away by the Dharla River.
At the same time, Nandadulal’s Vita Government Primary School has been swallowed by the river.
He said 10,000 people from 2,000 families had been affected by the floods here. The one metric ton of rice received from the district Relief and Disaster Department is less than required. The homeless and flood victims are flocking to his house in the hope of getting help.
Md. Ayub Ali, Chairman, Jatrapur Union Council, said that in the last one week, a total of 90 houses of Porarchar, Bhagwatipur, Shiberpachi, Khaserchar, Baldipara, and Parbatipur areas of his union had destroyed into the mighty river Brahmaputra river.
The homeless people have given the demand letter to the government to build houses. He is optimistic about getting the allocation.
Md. Nurjamal Bablu, Chairman, Mughalbasa Union Council, said that 144 houses in Malbhanga, Palligram and Charkrishnapur areas of his union had been submerged in the river in the last one week due to the landslide. He is anxious about where homeless families should give shelter.
Kalipada Roy, District Fisheries Officer, said about 100.29 metric tonnes of fish from 431 ponds in Kurigram had been washed away by the floods this time. The amount of loss is about Taka 90 lakh 21 thousand ( !0 lakh = one million).
The amount of damage to the infrastructure is Tk 4 lakh. Ariful Islam, Executive Engineer, Kurigram Water Development Board said, there is no danger of significant floods now. Activities are underway to prevent river erosion.
Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram, said 65 metric tonnes of rice, 2,000 packets of dry food, Tk 250,000 in cash, Tk 4 lakh for cow feed, and Tk 1 lakh for baby food had been distributed to the flood victims this time.
Ref: Green Page
