Aila-hit people cry for rehabilitation
Human chain organised by Nagorik Sanghati in front of the National Museum in the city yesterday, marking two years of the devastating Aila, demanding rehabilitation of the cyclone-stricken people.Photo: STAR
Some eminent citizens yesterday demanded proper rehabilitation of cyclone Aila-hit people in South Western region of the country. Two years ago on May 25, cyclone Aila swooped on the country's coastal areas and South Western Khulna and Shatkhira districts, killing 193 people and destroying embankments and thousands of houses, says a press release. Many more acres of land went under water and people there still suffer from a crisis of drinking water, they said at a rally organised by Nagorik Shanghati in front of National Museum in the city yesterday. They said people there still suffer from a scarcity of food and employment and demanded the government to ensure their employment rather than aid. The rally's participants held some items symbolising their demands -- for food they held Shanki (clay plate), for water they held Kalshi (clay water container) and for agricultural inputs they held paddy seeds and pesticide. Columnist and researcher Syed Abul Maksud, Barrister Omar Faruque, former director general of Bangladesh Water Development Board Engr M Enamul Haque and Ifma Hossain of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan also spoke. They alleged of corruption in building embankments and in distribution of relief and demanded punishment to those involved. They said the prime minister's declaration to provide house building assistance of Tk 20,000 for each of the affected 46,500 families on July 23 last year is yet to be implemented.
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