Repair flood embankments

Nearly a third of the country is now inundated with water levels rising on all major rivers including the Jamuna, Padma, Teesta, Ghagot, Dharla and Arial Khan. These high tides are stripping away at flood protection embankments and spilling over to cause major havoc on infrastructure and agriculture. Though the government has mobilised food supplies and cash handouts, catering to the needs of some 900,000 people in the 19 affected districts will require much greater efforts. We understand that the flooding will probably hit the low lying areas capital city within the coming days and that poses a headache of its own.
We are thankful that there have no reported cases of death, but the fact remains that the current wave of flooding will be here for some time. It has put a massive strain on resource mobilisation at both local and central levels. What has become evident is that cracks and collapse of a major flood control embankment in Bogra precipitated Jamuna spilling over into a number of upazillas. This incident merely highlights all the more the need to work round the clock to reinforce embankments wherever needed so as to avoid further marooning of people so far not affected by floods.
Entire communities have seen their property and livelihoods washed away. These unfortunate people are now marooned in isolated areas facing critical shortage of essential items like food, safe drinking water and medication. The thrust of activities must focus on their survival and containing the outbreak of diseases that come inevitably when floodwaters recede.