Crisis continues for flood-affected people in north, north-east

Flood-hit people in the northern and north-eastern districts of Bangladesh are passing difficult days as they suffer from a lack of food, drinking water and other essentials. Many have said they did not get any relief from the government during this period.

Government officials, however, said they have allocated sufficient relief materials for the victims. Yet when reports pour in from different districts, the situation is often bleak and dreary. Below is a compilation of small updates received from our correspondents in the affected districts.

In Sunamganj, many people are having to starve due to a severe shortage in food.

Flood water has submerged vast areas in many upazilas and people here wait desperately for a trawler to arrive in hopes that the vessel maybe carrying some relief.

"I could not work for last few days as the entire region is inundated. I also go to the local bazar in hopes of getting some relief materials," said Hosna Begum, a resident of Mallickpur area of the district town.

The district's deputy commissioner Mohammad Abdul Ahad, however, said the district administration has allocated sufficient amount of relief materials and cash for the flood-hit people.

In Kurigam, people are doubly worried now as the flood situation is worsening in the district with Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers flowing above the danger level. Around two lakh people in the district have been marooned due to the flood.

Brahmaputra river was flowing 55cm above the danger level at Chilmari Ghat point in Chilmari upazila, according to local WDB officials.

In Lalmonirhat, the situation is much the same. Many people have complained of lack of relief materials.

"We have been living in inhumane situations since Sunday evening. We have no scope to cook our meal as we are surrounded by water. We are in need dry food like chira, muri, gur,"said Abdar Hossain, a resident of Kutirpar village under Aditmari upazila.

"We are facing acute crisis of drinking water as all tube-wells in our village have been inundated," said Azizul Islam, a resident of Haddimari village under of Hatibandha upazila.

In Jamalpur, over 3.5 lakh people remain waterlogged as Jamuna river is swelling up rapidly. The river water was flowing 78cm over danger mark at Bahadurabad Ghat point in Dewanganj upazila yesterday.

Flood waters washed away 68 metric tonnes of fish, 48,000 fish fry worth Tk 1.14 crore from 422 ponds in the last few days.

In Sirajganj, over 1.5 lakh people of five upazilas are suffering as their houses and croplands have been inundated by Jamuna which was flowing 42 centimeter above the danger level.