Mintu Deshwara

For as far as the eye can see, there’s floodwater. Educational institutions have been closed for days. In such a situation, Deepak Ranjan Das, headteacher of Daserbazar High School, decided to set up a shelter in the school in Moulvibazar’s Barlekha upazila.

Standing under the rain with an umbrella, 60-year-old Nirendra Kumar Das, a resident of Gagra village in Hakaluki Haor area, waited for customers. Hours went by, and yet, not a single buyer came in sight, possibly because the market was submerged.

For around a month now, all four districts in the Sylhet division have been enduring floods with the water receding slowly from many areas and thousands left to suffer.

Humans weren’t the only casualties of the floods in Sylhet, especially in the haor area, as a significant number of wild animals died too.

Children and teenagers are driving battery-powered auto-rickshaws in Kulaura of Moulvibazar due to a lack of surveillance from the authorities.

Not only did the Sylhet flood cause devastating harm to the lives of residents there, it also put a massive dent in the tourism business of Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal upazila, but not in the way one might assume.

When one of her cattle died contracting hoof-and-mouth disease some time back, Salma Akther had grown deeply worried over the future of her remaining herd of 19 animals.

Jasim Uddin, a resident of Hakaluki Haor, use to work as a mason before the floods drowned his house. But at present, after losing everything, he rents a boat for Tk 8,000 per month from Bhukshimoil area and rows day and night to earn his bread.

The yard and kitchen of Aparna Rani Das’s house in Gagra village, on the edge of Hakaluki haor in Moulvibazar’s Barlekha upazila, is submerged in knee-deep water since June 17.

Cattle farmers, particularly those from flood-hit areas, are in fear of incurring losses from the sale of sacrificial animals ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha due to flooding, rising prices of cattle feed and a lower number of customers.

“How much more can we take?”

The flood situation in the Sylhet division has left a destructive effect on the lives of its residents. Women and children are the worst victims as of yet, with severe health complications, especially, malnutrition.

Rearing cattle has always been easy for the people of haor areas in the country’s northeastern region due to ample supply of natural fodder like grass.

Thousands of people in 93 unions -- one-third of the total 336 in Sylhet division -- suffer immensely as no humanitarian aid could reach them as yet.

Shamim Ahmed, a young resident of Eklimnagar village in Sunamganj’s Chhatak upazila, has been stranded with no relief since the flood hit his home six days ago.

Md Raju Mia (35), a resident of Murshibadkura village in Talimpur union on the bank of Hakaluki Haor, and his family have been battling the floods for generations. But this year's flood, caused by incessant rain and water from upstream, has put them in a tough position.

“Sir, please note down my name. I have five daughters and we have been going hungry for two days.”

The floods wreaking havoc in the country’s northern and north-eastern districts may worsen as water levels in already overflowing rivers could continue to rise over the next two days, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre. 

Around 30 families from the Tripura community, living on a hillock in Satchhari National Park area in Habiganj’s Chunarughat upazila, are in grave trouble. The only bridge connecting them to the mainland has collapsed due to the stormy winds and flood water flowing down the canal. As a result, they remain stranded on the hillock, unable to move to a safer region.

A total of 55.2 mm rainfall was recorded in Moulvibazar in the last 24 hours. In urban areas, the flood water decreased slightly today (June 18, 2022) as compared to yesterday, but at least 40 villages of the district remain waterlogged due to incessant rain.