No cyclone shelter in 8 coastal islands

Around 15,000 people of eight char (coastal island) areas under three unions in Rangabali upazila are living in constant fear as there is no cyclone shelter or schoolhouse to take shelter in during a natural disaster, nor are there any embankments to protect them from tidal surge.

Rangabali, covering 470 square kilometers, is one of eight upazilas in the district but it is totally isolated from the other upazilas. The upazila with five unions was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on February 25 in 2012.

There are about 50 isolated chars in all five unions, of which Char Kashem, Char Kalagachia and Char Kankuni in Rangabali union, Char Maishor, Char Najir, Char Tojammel and Char Kawkhali in Chhoto Baishdia union, and Char Lata in Chalitabunia union are without cyclone shelter, schoolhouse and embankment.

Reshma Begum, 40, of Char Maishor, has been living in a hut for 20 years with her family of five, including two sons Hasib, 10 Rakib, 8 and daughter Sumi, 3, and her husband Delwar Hossain, 45, maintains the family by fishing.

“If there is a natural disaster, we can only cry for help as there is no cyclone shelter.

During super cyclone Sidr in 2007 we saved our lives by climbing a tree, and we are still in fear of cyclones,” she added.

“We feel afraid when we see clouds in the sky from May to November as there is no shelter or embankment,” she said.

Hawa Begum, a housewife of Char Kasem, said their homestead often gets flooded during high tide as there is no dyke to protect them from tidal surges.

Abdur Rahim, 50, a resident of the same char, said they have no safe place to take shelter in during a cyclone or storm.

Rangabali Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Tapon Kumar Ghose said there is no educational institution in these chars. If the government approves setting up of an educational institution then they will take steps to build a school-cum-cyclone shelter where local people could take shelter during a natural disaster, he added.

Upazila Primary Education Officer (acting) Md Sagir Hossain said they have sent a proposal to the higher authorities to set up schools in those chars, but they did not get any response.

If the authorities give approval to set up a school, local children will get an opportunity to receive education, he said.

Rangabali Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Delwar Hossain said the people of those chars are still under disaster risk as there is no cyclone shelter or dyke.

“We informed the higher authorities about the matter,” he added.

Md Shahjahan Siraj, executive engineer of Kalapara circle Water Development Board, said they have no funds to build an embankment dyke in the area, but a new project will be taken up to protect the people of the chars.