Parts of Feni still cut off as relief efforts gather pace

Around 20 people have died while nearly 0.95 million others got stranded in the 11 eastern districts hit by flashflood caused by heavy rainfall and the opening of sluice gates of Indian river dams in the upstream, sources said.
The Chief Adviser (CA) office, however, Saturday said additionally, 5.0 million people from 587 unions under 77 upazilas in Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur, and Cox's Bazar have been affected in the floods.
A total of 18 people -- five in Chattogram, four in Cumilla, three each in Noakhali and Cox's Bazar, and one
each in Feni, Brahmanbaria, and Lakshmipur -- died in the floods. Unofficial estimates suggest the death toll could be little higher.

A total of 3,527 shelter centres have been opened to provide refuge for the affected people, where 0.3 million people and 21,700 cattle have got shelter.
A total of 770 medical teams are operational in the districts to provide medical services to the flood victims.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) has allocated Tk 35.2 million, 20,150 tonnes of rice, 15,000 food packets, food for children and cattle worth Tk 7.0 million as immediate relief.
The CA office in a release said that the deputy commissioners of the flood-affected districts had been instructed to work in coordination with members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the army, medical teams, and other volunteers.
A full-time control room has been opened at the Ministry, and the number 0255101115 is available for information and assistance.
The army, navy, coastguard, fire service and civil defence, BGB, RAB, students, and other volunteers have been engaged in rescue operations in Feni, Noakhali, Chattogram, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Habiganj, and Lakshmipur districts.
According to Feni district administration sources, Chhagalnaiya, Fulgazi, Parshuram, Feni Sadar, Daganbhuiyan and Sonagazi -- these six upazilas got completely flooded.
Meanwhile, newer areas were inundated in Feni Sadar and Sonagazi upazilas on Friday night.
About 0.35 million people are suffering. Besides, at least 0.1 million people are left waterlogged. There's no electricity or mobile-phone networks in the flood-affected areas.
Moreover, several hundred thousand people have taken shelter in local schools, colleges, mosques and madrasas.
"Although various government and voluntary organisations are distributing dry foods, there still have crisis for food and water," says a report quoting locals.
"Field hospitals have been set up to provide health services in Feni, while doctors from the army and the district civil surgeon's office are providing healthcare there," said the CA office. The adviser and the secretary in charge of the MoDMR visited the flood-affected areas to monitor the situation.
A Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) has been introduced at the Feni Deputy Commissioner's office to restore mobile communications.
The CA press release adds that interested people can send assistance funds into the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund: Account Name: 'Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund', Bank: Sonali Bank Corporate Branch, Chief Adviser's Office, Account Number: 0107333004093.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources said a total of 0.92 million subscribers in nine flood-affected districts of the country's southeast regions are out of power.
The ministry in its press release said that a total of 17 substations have been shut down in Feni, the worst-affected district where nearly 0.45 million customers were left without power in a flood-hit blackout.
Other affected districts include Chandpur, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chattogram, Cumilla, Cox's Bazar, Moulvibazar, and Brahmanbaria.
The flood forecasting and warning centre (FFWC) and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department in their Saturday-evening forecast said the water levels of major rivers in the North-Eastern, Eastern, and South-Eastern regions of Bangladesh continued to decrease.
The FFWC said six rivers in nine points in the south-east were flowing 4.0 to 96 centimeters above the danger mark on Saturday.
In the last one day, no significant rainfall was observed in Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, and Feni districts, leading to a receding water level in upstream rivers.
"The flood situation in low-lying areas of Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Cumilla, and Chittagong has begun improving."
Meteorological agencies report that heavy rainfall is unlikely in the northeastern region or its upstream areas in the next one day, and water levels in rivers like the Manu, Khowai, and Dhalai in Moulvibazar and Habiganj are expected to decline, further easing the flood situation.
Similarly, no heavy rainfall is expected in southeastern and eastern regions, and rivers like Muhuri, Feni, Gomti, and Halda might continue to recede, improving conditions in affected areas.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna water levels are decreasing, while the Ganga-Padma remains steady, and the Surma-Kushiara rivers are also receding.
"Meanwhile, the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern region are maintaining steady levels, which are expected to remain stable for the next two days'" the forecast says.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement continued to gather relief items and cash to support flood victims on Saturday.
The students' platform has so far sent a total of 25 truckloads of relief materials to support people affected by the severe floods in the southeastern region of the country.
Additionally, the process of packaging the received cash donations and relief materials to send to the flood-affected areas is ongoing.
This large quantity of relief supplies was collected over two days as part of a mass-relief campaign.
These details were shared on Saturday by Md. Mohiuddin, the co-coordinator of the Student Movement that spearheaded mass protests that unseated the past government of Sheikh Hasina in a student-people uprising.
He said that the relief supplies were sent to various locations in Feni, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, and Moulvibazar.
He said, "Over the past two days, we have received an overwhelming response from the public. People have donated whatever they could according to their ability. By Saturday night, we would be able to send 25 truckloads of relief materials. The TSC cafeteria, games room, and verandas are already full.
"Tonight, another dozen trucks will be sent to various flood-affected areas. With the combined efforts of students and the public, we will overcome this disaster," he told the FE Saturday.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the third day of the mass-relief campaign, people flocked to TSC to donate relief materials from early morning.
Individuals and organisations from different parts of the capital brought food, clothes, medicines, and other essential items for flood victims using personal vehicles, trucks, CNGs, vans, and rickshaws. Volunteers were seen struggling to handle the large amount of relief materials being collected. Around 4:45 p.m., two more trucks of relief supplies were brought in by the RAB.
According to the student platform, on the second day of the campaign, a total of Tk 12.6 million in cash was collected.
The influx of relief materials throughout the day filled the TSC cafeteria, games room, and verandas, creating a large pile of relief goods.
A significant amount of essential medicines is being stored on the second floor of TSC.
Volunteers have formed two human chains to transport relief supplies from the TSC gate to the inside. Volunteers were also seen working in the TSC field to package the relief materials on the day.
Lutfur Rahman, a coordinator of the student movement, said, "In the past two days, we have received over Tk 14.2 million. We have already started distributing the relief. Packaging is completed by midnight, and the relief is delivered to the flood-affected areas in the middle or late hours of the night."
He urged everyone to bring more baby foods, napkins, and essential medicines instead of clothing.
Charitable organisation As-Sunnah Foundation is working to distribute relief materials across the country.
Sheikh Ahmadullah, the Founder-Chairman of the As-Sunnah Foundation, announced that one truck carrying relief materials, including rice, lentils, and oils, was distributed at an orphanage in Dagonbhuiyan, Feni.
Additionally, three trucks of relief were distributed in Feni Sadar, three trucks in Cumilla, and one truck in Laxmipur district, he added.
Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus interacted with prominent NGO leaders who are working on the recent floods.
The meeting emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government and private organisations to effectively address the challenges posed by the floods.
Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, prominent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Rasheda K Chowdhury, ActionAid Bangladesh chief Farah Kabir and Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh, among others, were present.
[email protected], [email protected]