Aila-hit Satkhira people still live in utter misery

Failing to return home 16 months after last year's cyclone Aila, a family in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira live in a makeshift structure built on tree branches for safety from man-eaters and snakes. Photo: STAROur Correspondent, Satkhira

Hundreds of families in Shyamnagar upazila, made homeless by cyclone Aila and tidal surge on May 25 last year, are still passing miserable life on roads and embankments and in makeshift tents on high lands as they are yet to be brought under rehabilitation programme.

About 35,000 homeless people in Gabura, Padmapukur, Munshiganj, Burigoalini and Kashimari unions in the upazila are yet to return home as they could not rebuild their damaged houses due to financial hardship.

They are suffering for want of food and safe drinking water.

During the rainy season, flooding caused by embankment collapse and rise in water level of rivers add to their sufferings, washing away their makeshift shelters.

Sita Rani, Devi Rani Gain, Alaluddin, Shafiuddin, Dinesh Mondal, Swapon Mondal, Rashedul Islam and Saifullah of Munshiganj union in Shyamnagar upazila said they have to pass sleepless nights amid fear of storm and tidal surges when Met office advises hoisting cautionary signal.

As the Aila and tidal surges destroyed their houses and swept away rice, ducks and hens, they are passing days starved or half-starved on roads and embankments, they said.

Fear of attacks by man-eater Royal Bengal Tigers and snakes is another concern for the Aila-hit people living in makeshift houses built on the embankments adjacent to the Sundarbans.

Many of them have built temporary shelters on high branches of trees to save themselves from tigers and snakes.

Abdul Hamid Sana, Sadananda Mondal, Abinash Chakraborty and Gunadhar Biswas of Harinagar village said they are yet to be rehabilitated although their names were on the list of Aila-hit people.

A large number of Aila-hit people of the upazila have come to Satkhira district town in search of jobs but most of them are frustrated as many small mills and factories are running with losses.

A good number of Aila-hit homeless people now pull rickshaws while many others are seen begging in the streets.

Many Aila-hit people of Shyamnagar upazila are seen wandering in front of shrimp hatcheries, rice mills, ice and biscuit factories, food godowns, and bus stands with the hope of getting a job.

“The fund allocated for rehabilitation of the Aila-hit homeless people is scanty,” said HM Golam Reza, lawmaker from Satkhira-4 (Shyamnagar and Kaliganj upazilas).