Kurigram needs attention

Kurigram is such a district that gets flooded every year. And sometimes it happens more than once a year. So, the people here always have to live with natural calamities. The flood-hit people in the district have been going through immense sufferings for lack of adequate supply of food, pure drinking water and shelter. Waterborne diseases have become a major concern in the affected areas while flood shelters are submerged in many areas forcing people to take shelter under the open sky. In many severely affected remote areas, there is no flood shelter and the government's relief does not also reach there. Absence of toilet and sanitation facilities has become a big issue for women.

The havoc wrought by floods in Kurigram varies depending on their intensity. This year, it is particularly severe. We, the inhabitants of the district, now want a permanent solution. Instead of taking makeshift remedies, the government should take long-term plans so that people of this backward area do not lag behind. It is necessary to build industries in the district. We no longer want relief materials. Rather, we want employment. There should be a special budget for this district so that the authorities concerned can construct river embankments to resolve flooding issues permanently.

Ashikujaman Syed

Research Assistant,

Bioinformatics Research Lab,

Center for Research Innovation and Development (CRID),

syedashikujaman@yahoo.com