Joy of Eid eludes flood victims

The Eid-ul-Fitr hardly brought any joy for the flood hit people in different areas of Juri, Kulaura and Barlekha upazilas under the district as the affected people, many of them living at shelter centres, are surviving on relief.

"We could hardly think about new dresses and delicious food for the family members on the Eid day as managing regular flood remained our main concern," said Faraz Ali of Sonarpur village in Juri upazila. 

Water level of the Kushiara river is now flowing above the danger level, said Bijoy Indro Shankar Chowdhury, executive engineer of Moulvibazar Water Development Board.

Hundreds of villages in Barlekha, Juri and Kulaura upazilas are now under flood water that continues increasing during the ongoing rains, said locals and officials.

Bhukshimul, Kadipur, Brahmanbazar, Jaychandi and Baramchal unions in Kulaura upazila and Joyfarnagar, West Juri and Sagornal unions of Juri upazila are more affected.

Visiting Moulvibazar-Barlekha road including nearby Bhuksimul and Juri areas on the Eid day, this correspondent found a large number of houses as well as roads under water. Local people are using boats to move from one place to another.

“Earlier I lost my Boro paddy. Then my Aus paddy was washed away too,” said Moinul Islam of Bhuksimul village.

After losing standing crops in flood, farmers in the area are now being forced to sell their domestic animals for low prices to manage bare daily necessities, said Kishore Roy Chowdhury Moni, vice chairman of Juri Upazila Parishad.

He demanded adequate relief materials, especially food, for the affected people.

Farmer Moin Mia, 65, of Bhuksimul village said he along with other hapless villagers took shelter on a road.

Officials distribute delicacies among the sheltered flood victims at Uchail Government Primary School in Kadirpur union of the upazila. Photo: Star

"The flood has washed away our Eid joy. I am yet to bring my damaged dwelling huts back to liveable condition for want of money," said Abdul Quddus, a day labourer of Bhuhai village in Juri upazila.

Several others including Sahin Reza, Sahab Uddin, Abdul Hannan, Ripon Miah and Emran Hosain echoed the same.

Habibur Rahman, chairman of Kadipur union parishad of Kulaura, said shelter centres were opened for flood victims in Chakapan Government Primary School and Uchail Government Primary School in the area.

Mintu Chowdhury, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Juri, said 50 tonnes of rice and cash Tk 1.20 lakh were allocated from the district administration and it has already been distributed.

Kulaura UNO Chowdhury Golam Rabbi said rice, dry food and cash money have been distributed in different areas including Bhuksimul, Kadipur, Joychandi, Baramchal and Brahmanbazar unions.

Tofail Islam, deputy commissioner of Moulvibazar, said 294 tonnes of rice and 49,200 VGF cards have been distributed among the flood victims.