Hundreds in 2 villages water logged for months

Several hundred families in Bagdanga and Manoharnagar villages in Jashore's Keshabpur upazila have been living in inhumane conditions, as their houses remain under water for nearly two months. 

A number of residents of the villages said that the Manoharnagar-Bagdanga canal, which runs alongside their villages, overflew and flooded their villages.

Pumping of an enormous volume of water into the canal from Shrifala and Bayar Khola beels, under neighbouring Manirampur upazila, caused the canal to overflow, they also alleged.

Inhabitants of the two villages built a few makeshift footbridges with bamboo to communicate with other areas. Many of them are trying to elevate their houses with earth purchased from distant locations.

With their cattle sheds and toilets flooded and no place to take shelter to, many are living in unsanitary conditions. The prolonged water logging, mixed with sewer, is posing health hazards to all inhabitants, especially to the children and the elderly.

Day-to-day activities such as cooking and bathing have become the biggest challenge for the villagers, as they have to wade across murky floodwaters to fetch fresh water from surrounding areas.  

Bagdanga resident Mukul Roy said having a cooked meal at home has been one of the most difficult tasks when there is dirty water all around.

Sujan Roy, from the same village, said the flooding has washed up sewage from the toilets, posing severe health risks to everyone in the two villages.    

Lives of the villagers are in despair and many of them, including children, are suffering from various waterborne diseases, said Tanni Roy Tuki, a higher secondary student.  

Vaidyanath Sarkar, a union parishad member, said the water logging has been continuing in the area for about two months and the higher authorities concerned have been made aware of the situation.

Contacted, Panjia Union Parishad Chairman Shafiqul Islam Mukul said pumping out of water from the two villages has started already and the situation in the area will see an improvement in a few days.