<i>Joy of Eid still elusive to Sidr, Aila victims</i>
Eid festival brings no smile to this family at Char Najir in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district as cyclones Sidr and Aila turned a large number of people in the coastal region destitute for years. Photo: STAR
Like the last couple of years, the joy of Eid will remain elusive to a large number of people in the coastal areas this time too as they are yet to recover from the losses caused by cyclones Sidr and Aila in 2007 and 2009.
"I don't find any difference between Eid and usual days. Sidr and Aila destroyed my house and domestic animals years ago but I and my five-member family still live on relief goods provided by the local union parishad. How can we enjoy the Eid?" said Azahar Fakir, 55, of Char Lata under Galachipa upazila in Patuakhali district.
"Eid is meaningless to us as we do not have the ability to celebrate it. We are yet to rebuild our houses and collect cows to cultivate lands," Shakur, 60, of the same area said.
Majid Majhee, 50, and Harun Munshi, 52, have similar tales to tell.
"High price of daily necessities adds to our sufferings. We find it difficult to buy new clothes, items for preparing delicacy and other things to enjoy Eid," schoolteacher Ansar Akon said.
Abul Hawlader, a fish farmer of Char Najir under the same upazila, said fish worth over Tk 15 lakh from his gher (enclosure) covering 250 bighas of land was washed away during the onslaught of Aila and he is yet to recover the losses.
"All our belongings including houses, cows, hens, ducks, and fishes from ponds were washed away during Sidr and Aila as there is no flood control embankment in this char (island). Eid does not bring any difference to our life. People in different coastal island areas like Char Hear, Dhalar Char, Chan Najir, Char Khalifa, Char Bangla, Char Anda and Char Montaz under Galachipa upazila are in the same condition," said Rafiq Bapari, 45, of Gorubhanga under Chalitabunia UP.
Many farmers, already burdened with loan after incurring losses in their agriculture, cannot think about doing anything 'additional' to celebrate Eid.
"I cultivated my two bighas of land by borrowing Tk 30,000 from a local NGO. But I incurred loss of Tk 2,500 as I had to sell per maund of paddy for Tk 550 whereas the production cost was Tk 600," Alamgir Hossen, a farmer of Char Najir said.
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