Erosion adds to their misery

24 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Bogra

As the Jamuna is about to devour his homestead, Saiful of Charbati village in Sariakandi upazila shifts his house and family to a safer place yesterday. The recent flood added to the misery of hundreds of families in Bogra, rendering them homeless.Photo: STAR

River erosion and flood in char areas of three upazilas of the district forced a large number of families to move to safer places yesterday. Jamuna and Bangali rivers are still flowing above the danger level at Sariakandi point, said Bangladesh Water Development Board sources. Hundreds of flood victim families have shifted their houses to west embankment of Jamuna River in Sonatola, Sariakandi and Dhunat upazilas. Thousands of agriculture labourers are passing their days without necessary foods while most of the flood-affected families are facing crisis of baby food and pure drinking water, locals said. “I have shifted my house from Charbati village due to erosion by Jamuna River. At least 100 other people of the village have also shifted their houses for the same reason,” Saiful, a resident of the village, said yesterday. “Most of the 300 families who have shifted their houses to Jamuna river embankment at Nijkarnibari, are facing food crisis,” said Katubpur Union Parisad Chairman Tozammal Haque. Flood and river erosion in Dhunat and Sariakandi upazilas have affected 2,400 families, District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources said. About 155 tonnes of rice is ready for distribution among the victims, they said.