Together they rebuild dam to keep flood away

Not waiting for government help …People voluntary rebuilding the breached embankment of Monu river in Alinagar. PHOTO: STAR

People from all walks of life are working together to reconstruct the embankment to protect the area from further flooding and to save the next Aman crop.

Teachers, students and the local elite have taken spades in hand and joined the village folk in cutting earth and rebuilding the dam. Floods washed away about 1500 feet of the Minu river embankment at Alinagar, inundating vast areas in Prithinpasa, Kadipur, Karmcha and Rauthgaon unions in Kulaura upazila and affecting about six lakh people. The floods damaged houses and crops and washed away fishes from farms and ponds.

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Farmers are very busy now because it the peak hour to transplant Aman seedlings as the floodwater has receded. But they are making time to join the reconstruction work in batches. The river may rise again and their hard labour on lands may turn useless if the breached embankment is not repaired.

The initiative to reconstruct the embankment was taken by three persons--Dr Monirul Islam Suhag, Nobab Ali Noki Khan, chairman of Prithimpasa union and Abdus Shahid Babul, chairman of Karmadha union and a popular local leader. Noki Khan is the younger brother of former Jatiya Party lawmaker Nabab Ali Abbas Khan.

Dr Monirul Islam Suhag has a big fish farm, damaged by the recent flood.

The three joined hands and exchanged their idea with the local people that the damaged Alinagar embankment should be re-constructed immediately to protect the Aman crop in the area. People from all walks of life responded to their call and the work began on July 29.

People from others unions soon join them.

The three persons are supervising the work. Those who can not do physical labour are donating money and materials for the work.

MM Shahin, an independent lawmaker from the area, has also extended his helping hand. Everyday, he is supplying cooked food among the volunteers. He also supplied 6500 gunny bags.

Talking to this correspondent, Dr Suhag said reconstruction of the embankment by government is uncertain. The people have no time to wait for the Water Developments Board's (WDB) programme. So they joined hands to rebuild the embankment, he said.

People of all classes have spontaneously joined the work and it is likely to be completed within a few days, he said. This has created a spirit of self-reliance and confidence among the people of the area, he said.