Sylhet
Flood waters receding again in Sylhet but food, water crises persist
As the sun came out Saturday in Sylhet after four more days of heavy rain, the water level in all rivers and flood-hit areas started receding but that hardly eased the non-stop struggle life has been for its residents, many of them in areas cut off by waterlogging, since mid-June with food and fresh water crises still persisting.
Until Friday morning total fatalities from the devastating flood rose to 95 with three more deaths from drowning and lightning strikes in the country, said the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS).
According to the Water Development Board (WDB) in Sylhet, from Friday 6 am to Saturday 9 am water level decreased 11 cm at Sylhet point and 10 cm at Kanaighat point of the Surma river. Meanwhile the Kushiara river’s water level lowered 16 cm at Amalsid point, 5 cm at Sheola point, and 2 cm at Fenchuganj point. Lobha, Sari, and Dhalai rivers were also showing a receding trend.
Also read: Floods wash away crops and hopes in Kurigram
Asif Ahmed, executive engineer of Sylhet WDB, said, “The water is receding slowly but the flood situation is not expected to deteriorate in the next few days.”
Due to heavy rains from June 15, and upstream water running down from India, Sylhet and other north-eastern districts of the country faced the most devastating flood in living memory. For almost 17 days 80 per cent of the district remained under water and normal life there came to a complete standstill.
As tube wells of the flood-hit region also submerged, an extreme crisis of drinkable water and food became imminent in Sylhet.
“Total 99 unions of 13 upazilas in the district were flooded. Of the 35,000 government tube wells in the district 27,000 were submerged along with 2,000 more private ones,” told Alamgir Hossain, executive engineer of district Department of Public Health Engineering.
He said, “Eight mobile water treatment plants with capacity to supply 5,000 liters of water each have been received from the government. Of them six has been distributed to flood hit Sylhet city, COmpaniganj, Gowainghat, Kanaighat, Bishwanath, Fenchuganj and another two have been kept in reserve”.
“We are campaigning to teach the steps to purify tube well water after flood water recedes,” he added.
Ismail Ali, from Tererton area in the city said, “For eight days my house was under water and we just started cleaning the house today.”
He mentioned another problem that came up with receding water - an all-encompassing, unbearable stench from rotten wastes.
Nur Azizur Rahman, chief engineer of Sylhet City Corporation said “The city corporation is conducting a cleaning drive of the garbage from the canal and other water bodies. The whole city will be cleaned with bleaching powder.”
Also read: More rain forecast, but flood situation likely to improve in 6 districts Saturday
Meanwhile, Mukul Ahmed, a trader from Bangabir road said, “Though water went down from my shop the roads remained submerged for the 17 th day. My business has completely gone down and I don't know how many days the situation will remain like this.”
Water level falls in Surma & Kushiyara in Sylhet, Sunamganj
After a rise over the last two days, the water level of the Surma and Kushiyara rivers started falling again in Sylhet and Sunamganj on Friday.
According to the Water Development Board, the water level of Surma River has gone down by 10 cm at Kanaighat Point and 4 cm at Sylhet Point at 12pm today. However, the water level of the Kushiyara River is stable.
Meanwhile, it drizzled in Sylhet on Friday as well. However, there is no possibility of water rise in these rivers due to this light rain, said AKM Niloy Pasha, deputy assistant engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board.
Read: Major rivers swell again in northeastern region
Besides, rains are likely over this region for three more days, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Asif Ahmed, executive engineer of the Sylhet Water Development Board, said that there was no possibility of fresh flood due to this rain as the Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre reported.
In Sunamganj, the water level of Surma River has receded by 13 cm at Sadar municipality on Friday morning. This district recorded 21 mm of rain in the last 24 hours.
Road communication in four upazilas is still cut off as the floodwaters have not receded completely. In Sunamganj municipal town, Kazir Point, Bilpara, Nabinagar, West Natunpara areas, floodwaters fell slightly.
Read:Over 30 lakh homeless, 40,000 houses destroyed in flood-hit Sylhet
Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said all major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country are in a falling trend, which may continue falling in the next 24 hours.
However, the Brahmaputra River is in a steady-state, while the Jamuna River and Padma River are on the rising trend. These rivers may rise in the next 24-48 hours.
The flood situation in Kurigram, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria districts may improve in the next 24 hours, it added in their latest report.
Over 30 lakh homeless, 40,000 houses destroyed in flood-hit Sylhet
Over 30 lakh people have been rendered homeless and as many as 40,000 houses destroyed in the recent floods in Sylhet, officials said on Thursday.
All the 13 upazilas of the district, including five municipalities, have been affected.
Read: Another spell of flood looms over northeastern region
According to the local administration, over 2.5 lakh people are living in over 610 shelter homes across the district.
Floods in the northeast throw over 4.55 lakh students in Sylhet div into uncertainty
The monsoon floods that ravaged the Sylhet region have turned the studies of over 4.55 students in 1522 institutions uncertain as they lost their books and educational materials amid no sign of immediate reopening of their classes.
The authorities are compiling a report on the extent of damages caused by the worst floods to hit the region in living memory this month, according to Prof Shahedul Khabir Chwodhury, director of Department of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), Sylhet.
Read:Another spell of Flood looms over northeastern region
Reports received from the evaluation wing of DSHE, 100 educational institutions in the flood-hit upazilas under Sylhet division can be operated fully while 100 can reopen partially.
Besides, over 500 educational institutions remained closed in the flood-hit areas while 450 others are still used as shelter homes for flood victims, Shahedul said.
He said the text books of many students have been washed away in the flood-affected areas.
The examinees of Secondary School Examination (SSC) examinations are worried about sitting for the exams as flood waters damaged their books.
Tofazzal Hossain, a student of Salutikor High School in Sadar upazila, said “My books were washed away by the flood water and I have failed to collect replacement from the local school as they have no extra copies.”
Shihab Ahmed, a class VII student and resident of Rayergaon area of Sadar upazila, said “Flood water entered into our houses on June 17 and I am yet to collect new books and copies. When we returned home on June 24 and I found all of my books and copies damaged.”
About 80 per cent areas in Sylhet districts were flooded while over 21 lakh people got stranded in the second wave of the deluge on June 15.
Biman's first dedicated Hajj flight from Sylhet leaves for Jeddah
The first dedicated Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Sylhet left Osmani International Airport Tuesday morning.
The flight BG-3131 with 419 pilgrims on board departed the airport at 10:00 am and is scheduled to reach Jeddah at 01:30 pm (local time), said a Biman press release.
Read:2,415 more Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year
A total of 60,000 people are going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA) from Bangladesh to perform the hajj this year. Among them, 50 percent of the total hajj pilgrims will be transported by Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ 67 dedicated flights including two from Sylhet.
Inner Wheel Club of Dhaka Uptown joins Sylhet relief effort
From the middle of June, the north-eastern region of Bangladesh experienced flash floods for the third time this year, and the third wave played havoc with people’s lives and livelihoods in 9 northeastern districts of Bangladesh, with Sunamganj and Sylhet most severely affected.
At its peak, the flood affected 7.2 million in just the seven districts of Sylhet. Around 4 million remain affected. According to the Health Emergency and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 84 people died due to the floods from May 17 to June 25 in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions.
Read:Bangladesh Red Crescent adopts Tk54 crore plan to support relief efforts in Sylhet
An encouraging feature of the nation’s response to the flood has been the willingness of people and organisations from various sections of society to step forward in their own capacity and stand by the victims. Celebrities, social media influences, clubs and societies from within the country as well as the entire diaspora have stepped up to be counted at a level not seen before.
Farzana Sharmin, Vice-President of the Inner Wheel Club of Dhaka Uptown, expressed her desire to stand by the flood victims on June 18. Determined to support the helpless people of Sylhet, Nafisa Tarannum, the chapter’s president, immediately issued a call for all the clubs of Inner Wheel District 345 to come forward and help the flood victims in Sylhet.
Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation that aims “to create friendship, service and understanding.” It has local chapters in towns and cities in over 100 countries, and enjoys consultative status at the United Nations.
The chapters, or clubs that came forward to lend their hand in support of the initiative were: Inner Wheel Club of Dhaka Buriganga, Inner Wheel Club of Bailey Garden, Inner Wheel Club of New Ramna, Inner Wheel Club of Lasai Hill, Inner Wheel Club of Kishoreganj, Inner Wheel Club of Krishnachura, Inner Wheel Club of Paradise, Inner Wheel Club of Dhaka North, Inner Wheel Club of Dhaka, Inner Wheel Club of Karnaphuli, Inner Wheel Club of Cox’s Bazar, Inner Wheel Club of Green Bailey, Inner Wheel Club of Greenhill Chattogram.
“We also got a huge response through social media,” Nafisa said, before explaining what motivated them to get involved in the relief effort.
Read: US to provide emergency flood relief for people in northern Bangladesh:Envoy
“At present, the people of Sylhet are living in unspeakable misery due to the sudden flood. They have lost everything, including their homes, and they are suffering from a lack of food,” she said. “Given the social mission of Inner Wheel Club, we just knew we had to mobilise whatever resources we could and stand by them, otherwise we would be failing that mission.”
Secretary of Dhaka Uptown, Suraiya Akter Chishty distributed chira, molasses, biscuits, saline, candles, and matchboxes among the flood victims at Sunamganj Sadar Upazila Lalpur, Amberi Ghat area on the first day. On the second day, chira, molasses, biscuits, saline, rice, pulses, salt, candles, and matchboxes were distributed among 300 families at Haoria Alipur of Jamalganj Upazila, Islampur, Islampur Baghati, Mashalghat, Shibpur village. Social worker Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Khandaker Shahidul, and Shagor Mia also accompanied them in the distribution process.
Receding flood waters reveal disastrous damage in Sylhet
As the waters started receding following Sylhet division's worst flood in living memory, the disastrous damage it inflicted also became evident, along with the challenge any recovery effort will face in the days ahead.
The death toll from the third flash flood of the year in Sylhet reached 52 till Sunday morning (from May 17), according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), but this is almost certainly an underestimate, with local sources claiming the toll to be much higher. Many areas haven't even been accessed, where the authorities have no idea of casualties.
According to Sylhet District administration, around 22 lakh people from four lakh families are bearing the brunt of this terrible disaster while 80 percent of the area still remains under water as of Sunday.
“Part of Sylhet City Corporation, all the 13 upazilas and five municipalities and 94 unions were affected in the district. The exact number of people facing the damages will be 21,87,232 (21 lakh 87 thousand 232)of 4,16,819 families (4 lakh 16 thousand 819),” said Ahsanul Alam, Assistant Commissioner of District Administration.
He said 22,450 houses and 28,945 hectares of cropland have been damaged according to official estimation so far.
However, locals are claiming the damage is vaster and the recovery will be long.
Also read: Flood situation worsens in parts of Sylhet
Bearing the brunt
Tara Mia, 70, from Janigaon village, has not seen such a terrible flood in his entire life. “On June 16, when all of a sudden water started entering my house I took shelter near a high area beside Sylhet-Sunamganj highway and remained there since. None cares about us though, people come and speed away with their vehicles as we sit helplessly beside the road,” he said.
Khushbu Begum, 60, from the same village said, ”Don’t know how we will get back to our homes after flood water lowers as it is filled with soil now.”
Husnahar Banu, 35, who took shelter in a ramshackle cottage beside the highway with her six children, said,”We took refuge here 14 days ago and are not sure how many days we will need to spend on the roads. There is still water inside the home that we left.”
Fifty-five-year-old Kahar Mia was more worried about his cattle as some of them had already washed away. “We can survive by eating flattened or parched rice but the helpless animals might die without their food,” he said.
Akkas Ali, from Jaikar Kandi village in Kandigaon union, returned home from the shelter center on Saturday evening and broke down in tears as nothing but the foundation remained.
“The floodwater took away everything but the clothes on our bodies. We are eating the relief provided by people. How will we build everything back now?” he wondered aloud as he was unsure how to bring back his family from the shelter as there is no home.
Tahera Begum from Moiar Char village said,”For five days I took shelter in Badaghat High School and as I returned home found the toilet was broken and everything in the house was damaged. Repairing everything is the biggest challenge for everyone as the flood has snatched our income sources too."
Soaring prices of dry food another blow to flood-hit Beanibazar residents
Though the flood waters have started receding in different parts of the country the people of Sylhet's Beanibazar upazila are suffering from severe food crisis.
The prices of daily commodities, especially dry foods used for relief have shot up multiple-fold in a week.
During a recent visit to different shops in the area, the UNB correspondent found that before the floods flattened rice (chira) sold at Tk 80 per kg is now being sold at Tk 100. A week ago, the price of this flattened rice was Tk 55 to 60 per kg.
The price of puffed rice (muri) has doubled in the area within a week. Last Friday, the puffed rice sold at Tk 53-to 55 per kg is now being sold at Tk 110.
Read: Flood situation in 6 Sylhet upazilas takes a turn for the worse
The price of rice and lentils have also increased. Onions were being sold at Tk 40 per kg and potatoes at Tk 20 per kg. Even a week ago, onions were sold at Tk 35 per kg and potatoes at Tk 20 per kg. Price of eggs, one of the main protein items, significantly increased in this flood-hit area over the past few days, landing the consumers in more trouble.
The price of a hali (four pieces) of eggs rose to Tk 45-48 at retail markets from Tk 38-42 earlier.
As there is an acute shortage of dry wood due to floods in the area, the price of charcoal has increased significantly. Earlier, it was sold at Tk 400 to 500 per maund and is now being sold at Tk 950 per maund.(1 maund=38kg)
Shamim Ahmed, a grocer in Uttar Bazar in Beanibazar municipality, said that some unscrupulous traders are taking advantage by increasing the price of dried food.
Shaheen Alam Hridoy, joint secretary of Beanibazar Press Club, said the way in which the prices of products used as relief for flood victims are increasing day by day is inhumane. The administration should monitor the market and bring such rogue traders under the law.
Beanibazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ashiq Noor said it was not possible to monitor the market due to the floods. However, action will be taken soon, he added.
Flood situation worsens in parts of Sylhet
The flood situation in some parts of Sylhet has worsened, with the rise in water levels of the Kushiara river in the past 48 hours, officials have said.
According to the local Water Development Board, the Kushiara was flowing above the danger level at various points on Friday morning.
Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Gopalganj, Phenchuganj, Osmaninagar, Biswanath, South Surma of Sylhet, Borolekha, Kulaura, Rajnagar, Juri, and Jagannathpur of Sunamganj have been inundated by the waters of the Kushiara.
Read: Flood situation in 6 Sylhet upazilas takes a turn for the worse
On the other hand, flood waters have receded in many areas of the district, including Sylhet city, officials said.
Although the water levels in the Surma river have decreased in the last four days, it was still flowing above the danger mark till Friday morning.
Sylhet City Corporation chief engineer Nur Azizur Rahman said that relief materials have been distributed among the flood-hit people. "Ward councillors are coordinating the distribution."
Road crashes leave seven dead in Naogaon & Sylhet
Seven people were killed and three others injured in separate road accidents in Naogaon and Sylhet on Friday morning, police said.
In Naogaon, the accident occurred on the Naogaon-Rajshahi highway in Sadar upazila around 8am when a truck collided with a CNG-run auto-rickshaw.
Five people, all occupants of the auto-rickshaw, died in the impact of the collision in the Bablatali area of the highway, said Nazrul Islam Jewel, officer-in-charge of Naogaon Sadar Model Police Station.
Also read: Van driver killed in Kushtia road accident
Cops couldn’t identify the deceased immediately.
Meanwhile, in Sylhet, a woman and her son were killed when a truck hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Companiganj at 6am.
The deceased were identified as Hanufa Begum and her son, Emraj Mia, of the upazila, said police.
The speeding truck crashed into the auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction in Telikhan of the upazila, leaving the mother-son duo dead on the spot and three others injured, Sukanta Chakraborty, officer-in-charge of Companiganj police station, said.
The injured have been admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital (SOMCH), he added.
Also read: Driver, helper killed in Natore road accident
The bodies will be handed over to the family members after completing legal formalities, said the OC. "We have seized the truck. But its driver and helper managed to escape."