Villagers suffer as dyke lies ravaged for years

Hundreds of people at Keshorata village in Sadar upazila have been facing untold sufferings since the village protection dyke beside the Kacha river was washed away during cyclone Aila in 2009.

Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to construct any dyke there, said Jahirul Islam Rana, member of Shariktala Dumuritala Union Parishad.   

Many parts of the 94 km dyke, meant for protecting Sadar upazila from the river, were washed away during the cyclone.  Water Development Board (WDB) authorities later constructed dyke at most of the portions.

“But half a kilometre of the dyke at the village is yet to be constructed. As a result, tidal water from the river often flooded the area,” said Nasiruddin Sheikh, a resident of the village. 

Another villager Abdur Rashid Hawlader said, “During monsoon, they often cannot go out of home as the area goes under knee-deep water. School kids are the worst sufferers.”

As a result, many roads of the village have been damaged, hampering communications, he said.

They also suffer from different waterborne diseases due to the situation, said Rashid.

Housewife Reba Begum of the area said they cannot cook more than one time a day as the earthen oven remains wet most of the time.

Meanwhile, fodder crisis is forcing farmers to sell their cattle, said villagers.

Pirojpur WDB Executive Engineer Sayeed Ahammad said he wrote to the higher authorities for fund to construct dyke there but to no response yet.