Hundreds suffer as low-lying areas of Bagerhat submerged

More than 50 thousand families have been marooned in Bagerhat due to incessant rainfall triggered by depression and full moon tides in the Bay of Bengal.

As a result, thousands of people in the coastal district have been suffering with low income people caught in the crunch.

The fish production of the district, which is one of the highest fish producing districts in the country, has also been seriously affected as more than 11 thousand fish enclosures have been washed away.

Sharankhola upazila has received maximum rainfall of 240 mm with an average rainfall in the district was 86.22 mm.

Many areas of Sharankhola including Khuriakhali, Southkhali; Narendrapur, Sangdia, Chandrapara, Raripara, Padmanagar, Bhandarkola of Kachua, Shankibhanga, Chingrakhali Morrelganj municipality area are now submerged in water. The people of these areas are in dire straits.

The families have been living on dry foods as rainwater has entered their kitchens. Malek, Quddus, Saidul and some others from Guchhgram, located on the banks of the Bhola river in Sharankhola upazila, said that they have had to stop cooking due to the situation.

"We have been eating dry food for two days. If the water does not recede, we will have to die without eating," they said.

They demanded that the government provide them food assistance immediately.

Asim Chakraborty of Sangdia village of Kachua upazila said, "Many houses in our area have been submerged due to continuous rain. Many trees have been uprooted. The fish in the enclosures and pond have been washed away. We are in a lot of trouble."

Seasonal vegetables have also been severely damaged. Momin Mollick of Foylahat area of Rampal upazila said that his vegetable cultivation has been inundated.

Water has accumulated at the roots of all vegetables. All the roots will rot when the water recedes, these plants will die as soon as the sun rises, he said.

Khatune Jannat, upazila nirbahi officer of Sharankhola, said "Most of the people in Sharankhola upazila have been trapped in water. We have distributed dry food among the waterlogged people. Local people's representatives have been asked to take necessary steps to drain the water from the locality."

Raihan Uddin Shanto, chairman of Sharankhola Upazila Parishad, said, "There are 30 to 35 thousand people in my upazila alone who suffering because of waterlogging. At least 90 percent of the upazila is now under water. This condition has been created due to lack of proper drainage system."

"The upazila administration is distributing dry food. But the people need more cooperation," he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Bagerhat Mohammad Azizur Rahman said several areas of Sharankhola, Morrelgonj, Mongla, Rampal, Bagerhat  Sadar and Kachua were inundated due to continuous rains. As a result, about 50 thousand families have been marooned.

"We have started distributing dry food and food items among the waterlogged families. Upazila nirbahi officials have been instructed to extend all kinds of cooperation to the victims," he said.