Repair embankments in Aila-hit areas soon
Demands human chain in Khulna
People of Aila-affected areas form a human chain at Picture Palace Cinema intersection in Khulna city yesterday demanding immediate steps for construction of embankments to save them from recurrent flooding and waterlogging.Photo: STAR
Aila affected people of four upazilas in Khulna and Satkhira districts have demanded immediate repair of the damaged embankments for rehabilitation of the homeless. The demand came from a human chain formed at Picture Palace Cinema intersection under Khulna Sadar Police station on Saturday. Jointly organised by Mass Action Committee and Aila Durgato Shanghati Mancha, a group of students from Aila-hit Dakope and Koira upazilas of Khulna district joined the human chain programme with their bodies bared to give vent to their sorrows and sufferings. Convenors of the Mass Action Committee advocate Firoz Ahmed and Member-Secretary of Aila Durgato Shanghati Mancha Hasan Mehedi in a press statement on Saturday night said the crying need at this critical time of the homeless people is immediate construction of embankments and not relief goods in four Aila affected upazilas of Khulna and Satkhira districts. They appealed to the government to honour commitment made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to complete construction works of the damaged embankments within three months for rehabilitation of the homeless people who have been living in subhuman conditions at dilapidated makeshift camps, unhygienic cyclone centres and in open spaces since they were hit by Aila on May 25 last year. The prime minister while visiting Aila affected Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira and Koira upazila of Khulna districts on July 23 this year directed authorities concerned to complete the construction works of damaged embankments within three months. But we see no such move has so far been taken by the authorities concerned to construct the damaged embankments as directed by the prime minister, said advocate Firoz Ahmed in the the statement. Meanwhile, Engineer Md Anwar Hossain of the Water Development Board (WDB) told this correspondent yesterday that works for construction of embankments would begin from November 1.
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