They are no more afraid of flood

But they are undone against erosion, which hit in the areas almost without notice.

"We are not afraid of flood and do not move for safer place any more as we have already raised homesteads above flood level" said Saidur Rahman at Char Khanchapara in Fulchari upazila.

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"We however felt insecure when marooned during flood", he added.

There are 120 big and small char lands (shoal) along Teesta and Brahmaputra basins with a total population of about 1,50,000 in some 32,000 families. Most of them are agricultural labourers and marginal farmers.

Earlier they had no option but to move on to dams and other higher places and live under open spy during flood. Many even migrated elsewhere.

Oxfam initiated the 'river basin programme' in 1996 with the help of some local NGOs including Gono Unnayan Kendro, Samaj Kallan Sangstha, Ekota and Somokal, local landlords, Union Parishads and the upazila administrations.

They have so far set up eight flood shelters in different areas. Oxfam provided about Tk 50,000.

The programme included erecting flood shelters, raising homesteads above flood level, advocacy, education and healthcare.

Gono Unnayan Kendro set up three shelters at Kunderpara, Kachir Char and Chowmohon, and Samaj Kallan Sanstha set up another three at Khanchapara, Tengrakandi and Deluabari in Fulchari Upazila. Ekota erected one shelter at Kapasia and Samokal one at Belka in Sunderganj upazila. The eight flood shelters accommodate 2,400 families.

The advocacy, education and healthcare activities under the programme also brought about some changes in their socio-economic condition.

The shoal people contributed their labour and local landlords donated lands.

This correspondent while visiting Char Khanchapara in the Brahmaputra basin in Fulchari upazila during the recent flood saw 30 to 35 families residing in their raised homes.

At Kunderpara flood shelter, Gano Unnayan Kendo Chief Executive M. Abdus Salam said few people came to the shelter as many homesteads have been raised above flood level.

Tubewells have been sunk for safe drinking water and sanitary facilities created at the flood shelters.

These flood shelters and lands around are being maintained by a committee formed with local people. They cultivate vegetables on the lands to raise the maintenance cost, said Rasel Ahmed Liton, Co-ordinator of Samaj Kallan Sangstha.

"We also make them aware about precautionary measure against flood and supply dry food, kerosene, candle, match, boat etc", said Sharafat Hossain, President of Disaster Prepa-redness Committee at Char Belka Nawabganj in Sunderganj upazila.