Feni people struggle to get on their feet after flood

FENI, Aug 30 (UNB): Residents of Feni, one of the most flood-affected districts in Bangladesh, are struggling to turn around after a devastating flood that left millions people in serious trouble.

Recounting her suffering, Hasina, a resident of Alampur village of Bogadana Union in Sonagazi, said she has nothing left.

"I am completely destitute. Houses and belongings have been washed away by water. Everything in the house was damaged by water for five consecutive days. The water level has reduced now, but what I have lost, it is not possible to recover," she sighed.

Abu Mia, a farmer of GM Hat village in Fulgazi Union, said that there is still two feet of water in the paddy field.

"Having lost all my support, I am almost sitting on the road. I don't know how to get out of this situation. I feel helpless," said Abu Mia.

Kartik Babu, a pharmacy owner in the Masterpara area of Feni town, said there was drugs worth Tk 0.6 million (6 lakh) in his shop. When the shop was opened after the flood water receded, most of the furniture was destroyed. "The medicines are also no longer eligible for sale," he said.

Such stories of losing everything are not one or two but thousands. Disoriented people have lost everything from household furniture to clothes to money.

The scars of Feni's worst floods in recorded history are becoming increasingly apparent. Even when people started returning from the shelters, the suffering did not end. All the houses left behind are in ruins. Flood-hit families are about to lose everything.

According to the preliminary report of the flood damage of the Feni District Relief and Disaster Directorate, due to severe floods in Feni, fish, livestock, agriculture, livestock, LGRD and milk-eggs have been damaged to the tune of over Tk 10 billion (1,000 crore) in six upazilas.

The agricultural sector alone suffered more than Tk 4.51 millon (451 crore) losses due to flooding that affected two and a half thousand farmers. It has become impossible for them to turn around, but many said that they will start with new initiatives if they get government incentives.

This year's third round of floods affected all the upazilas of Feni. Miles and miles of roads were destroyed. Many roads are not walkable. There has been a total loss of thousands of crores of wealth including agriculture, fisheries, poultry. So far, 19 people have died in the district due to severe floods.

The army and navy are working for the treatment and rehabilitation of the locals after the flood.

Chief of Army Staff General Waqar-uz-Zaman said that the army has been working in the field since the beginning of the flood. From rescue operations to distribution of relief, they are playing a crucial role in all cases.