They are denied Eid joy

The Eid-ul-Azha brought hardly any joy for a large number of people in flood-hit areas of Nilphamari and Kurigram districts.

“How can we celebrate Eid? We are passing our days half starved as we took shelter at an earthen killa (a high place made for sheltering flood victims) after floodwater washed away our house,” Akram Ali, 65, of Kisamat Satnai village, an isolated char (landmass emerging from riverbed) of the Teesta river in Dimla upazila, told our Nilphamari correspondent during his visit to the area on the Eid day.

Ghutu Mamud, 80, Rezaul Islam, 50, Monibar Ali and several other inhabitants of the village said their houses went under 7 to 8 feet water that also swept away paddy, wheat, cattle, chickens, house yard trees and other belongings.

“The village is 15 km away from the upazila town and surrounded by the Teesta on three sides and Indian border on another. This year's devastating flood occurred only two weeks before the Eid and people could not cross the river to sell agricultural products or work as day labourers for earning,” said local union parishad member Azizul Islam.

Our Kurigram Correspondent reports: Most of the flood affected people in the flood affected areas of the district could not celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha this year.

“The recent flood washed away my dwelling house and cropland. Now I and my seven-member family have taken shelter in North Char Sharodob village,” said Matiar Rahman, 50, of Char Sharodob village in Halokhana union under Kurigram Sadar upazila.

“Before this Eid I received Tk 500 from people and some dry food from the government. I could not buy new dresses for my family members, let alone sacrifice animal. We could not eat meat in this Eid as none has sacrificed cattle here,” he said.

Another flood victim Anwarul Islam, 28, of Char Shitayejhar village of Mogalbasha union under Kurigram Sadar upazila said they could not celebrate the Eid this year due to financial crisis as their houses were ravaged by flood.