Study of 50,000 students stalled, cyclone victims still need succour

Study of over 50,000 students is being hampered as the May 25 cyclone Aila followed by tidal surges damaged 487 academic institutions in four upazilas of Khulna district.

Meanwhile, mismanagement in relief distribution coupled with lack of materials adds to the sufferings of cyclone victims, many of them starving.

As many as 194 institutions have been damaged in Koira upazila while the number is 140 in Paikgachha, 78 in Batiaghata and 75 in Dakope upazila under the district.

Fifteen of them are colleges, 53 madrasas, 113 high schools and the others are government and non-government primary schools.

In the four upazilas, most of the 198 unharmed institutions have been made temporary shelters for the people who have turned homeless by the cyclone and tidal surges.

Many homeless people are still staying on embankments and in cyclone centres in remote areas of worst affected Koira and Dakope upazilas of Khulna district.

A large number of cyclone victims are suffering for want of food and pure drinking water while there are allegations of lack of coordination in distribution of relief goods.

The district administration has been facing a lot of problems due to lack of coordinated efforts in distribution of relief goods, said Paikgachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Sabur Hossain.

It is very difficult to determine if worst victims are getting relief goods or some people are taking it more than once through unfair means, said Dakope upazila Chairman Abul Hossain.

Malpractice in distribution coupled with unavailability of relief materials have added to the sufferings of affected people, mostly starving, said Koira upazila Chairman Md Mohsin Reza.

Meanwhile, very little relief materials have reached Sharankhola and Morrelganj upazilas of Bagerhat district, sources said.