'Give me something to eat’

Our Correspondent, B'baria
"My son, give me something to eat", was the fervent appeal of middle-aged Tulai Bibi when this correspondent went to Shanjadpur village in a boat to see their plight yesterday.

"I did not eat anything yesterday and today (Wednesday)", she said sitting on a raised makeshift platform. There was waist-deep water in her house.

Day labourer Siraj Mia said, "We have no work, no food. I can not do anything for my wife, three children and old mother".

Condition of all in the village is similar to that of Tulai Bibi and Siraj Mia. There are about 10,000 villagers in the village near the Titas river under Sharail upazila.

Whenever any boat reaches the village, hungry people approach eagerly for relief. But they are disappointed. Most of the villagers are day labourers, who have no work now.

There is no source of drinking water as all the tube wells are under water.

Md Azizul Islam, former member of Shahjadapur Union Parishad, said none in the village got any relief since the severe flooding began about a week ago.

Most of the people have lost everything-- vegetables in the garden, goats and poultry.

The village is surrounded by the Titas from three sides. Except a few spots, the whole village is under four to five feet water. The area looks a vast sheet of water, dotted by trees only. The river can not be demarcated.

The only road linking the village and the local market is under four to five feet water. So they can not purchase essentials.

During the correspondent's visit, Brahmanbaria Police Superintendent ATM Tarek appeared there all of a sudden as part of a routine check-up of law and order.

He had taken a small quantity of chira (dried food), molasses, and some candles. He distributed those among them.

"Their sufferings are beyond imagination", the SP said while returning. "Something must be done without delay".