Aila victims return to their old professions in Khulna

KHULNA, May 24 (BSS): Cyclone Aila victims who lost their homes and jobs six years ago, have returned to their homes and started to continue their old business.
Most of the victims are working in their shrimp gher, netting fish and fish fries in the rivers adjacent to the Sundarbans.
The remaining ones are farming their lands with seasonal crops including salt tolerant crops.
On May 25, 2009, at least 190 people were killed and several thousand houses washed away by the tidal surge of seawater as the cyclone storm codenamed 'Aila' roaring with a high speed, hit the country's coastal belt including that of Khulna.
Thousands of people returned to their homes at Koyra and Dakop Upazila in Khulna last year as Water Development Board (WDB) repaired and constructed sluice gates, polders and embankments in the last five years.
Local sources said, an estimated 45,000 people out of 8,500 families had built their new homes in the two upazilas so far.
Khulna district relief officer Azizul Zoarder told the news agency that the government has distributed 6,207.15 tonnes rice, Tk 20.8 million (2.08 crore) for purchasing dry foods, Tk 826.5 million for house construction, 500kgs puffed rice (Chira), 10, 000 litres drinking water, 15,075 quilts and huge water pots, water tanks, tarpaulin, jericans, sarees, lungis, a total of 75, 810 VGF cards and built more 723 residences, financed by climate trust fund.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said, over 90 per cent of the people of the two upazilas who had migrated after Aila hit, returned back to their home previous year and had engaged with paddy, seasonal crops, vegetables and fish cultivation in shrimp gher.
"I have cultivated black shrimps in my five bighas land last year," Ruhul Amin, a victim of the cyclone Aila of the village Maharajpur under Koyra Upazila told the news agency.
Nurul Haque, a lawmaker of Khulna-6 constituency, said polders stretching up to 10 kms in length in Koyra and Dakop were damaged by the storm at some 30 points.
The WDB has carried out repair works and completed those he said adding that cyclone victims are now very happy due to different steps has been taken by the government to their rehabilitation.