River erosion takes serious turn as flood water recedes

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FE Report
River erosion, triggered by receding flood waters, has caused further sufferings at a time when the people are preparing to rebuild homes and cultivate crops, and many fear the loss to the economy will be much more severe than that of the 2004 deluge.
"River erosion in some of the major affected districts has taken a serious turn following the retreat of flood water," said a senior official of the food and disaster management ministry Thursday.
He said the current year's flood was less devastating, but the actual damage to the economy might be higher due to the river erosion,
According to the ministry, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Gapalganj are the most flood affected districts.
Of them, Jamalapur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Madaripur are now facing river erosion that has already rendered thousands of people homeless and devoured hectares of crop fields.
The ministry is preparing a damage assessment report following the instruction of the Economic Relations Division (ERD). The report will be placed at a meeting between ERD and Local Consultative Group (LCG), which comprises representatives of donors in Dhaka, Sunday. However, there will be no flood damage assessment on the basis of financial losses as the ministry has been asked to prepare material losses caused by the current flood.
"We have been asked to place a report only on material losses, not on the basis of financial criteria," said the ministry official.
He said the meeting between the ERD and the LCG is important as the donor agencies and countries will help the government adopt a post-flood rehabilitation roadmap on the basis of the ministry's report.
The agricultural ministry has already informed the Ministry of Finance that as per a preliminary finding the damage of crop and vegetables is worth nearly Tk 6 billion.
The country faced massive flood last time in 2004 that caused economic losses worth US$ 2.0 billion, which included $500 million in damage to crop and vegetables.
According to an update on losses available Thursday, crops and vegetables on some 1.4 million acres of land have been affected due to the flood. Standing crops on almost half of the area have been totally washed away.
The floods damaged 2,668 kilometres (km) of road totally and 22,591 km partially. Educational institutions numbering 510 have been completely damaged and 6,672 partially.
Some 87 km of embankment have been totally destroyed and some 727 km partly damaged. Some 72 bridges and culverts are totally destroyed and 1536 partially.
The government has opened 758 centres to shelter about 1.9 million flood affected people. It distributed cash worth Tk 117 million and also allocated Tk 60.8 million as house building assistance.
Besides, rice and various food items were also distributed among the flood victims.
The flood has taken the lives of 375 people in 39 affected districts.