End waterlogging in Bhabadah

People of Bhabadah in Jessore yesterday demanded immediate and permanent solution to the waterlogging problem in the area, which covers five upazilas of two districts in the country's south-eastern part.

Under the banner of "Amra Abhoynagarbashi", they also demanded that the government declare Bhabadah as an “affected area” and sought the prime minister's direct intervention to mitigate the crisis.

They made the demands at a human chain in front of the capital's national museum.

More than 10 lakh people of 200 villages in Bhabadah area, including Abhoynagar, Monirampur and Keshabpur upazilas of Jessore and Khulna's Fultala and Dumuria, are suffering due to waterlogging, according to the organisers.

Syeda Rezwana Hasan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, voiced solidarity with them and demanded to declare the area as “severely affected”.

“The water resources ministry and water development board did not take any effective initiative…we are seeking the PM's intervention,” she said.

Russel Parvez, a resident of Abhoynagar, said, "People are suffering from different types of waterborne diseases; they do not have enough money or food as their fish farms, ponds and crop fields have been inundated. Around 50 schools have also been shut down,” he said.

Zahid Hasan Milon, another resident, echoed.

The residents urged the government to take initiatives, including excavation of Shrinadi and Horinadi rivers, re-excavation of Amdanga cannal, opening Bhabadah sluice gate and making it fully functional, and creating another sluice gate at the entrance of the Bhairab river.