The recent floods in Bangladesh have had a devastating impact on Feni and Noakhali districts. Over 90% of the population in these areas has been severely affected, with 48% of homes destroyed, according to Oxfam.
The upstream water entered Parashuram’s Solia, Mirzanagar and Chithlia areas on 21 August. It continued to rain continuously. Parashuram and Phulghazi were flooded first. Later, it spread to Chhagalnaya, Feni Sadar, Daganbhuiyan and Sonagazi.
The flood water submerged several villages in the Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni. Around one million people were trapped in water due to the flood, according to the district administration. Members of more than five hundred voluntary organisations from different districts came to Feni to rescue affected people.
The members of Bashundhara Shuvosangho have been continuously working for the last two weeks. At the beginning of the flood, the Shuvosangho members brought a boat from Sonagazi and rescued trapped people, along with the family members of the district volunteers. Then, 600 packets of cooked khichuri, water, biscuits, etc were distributed to the people trapped in various shelters for three days.
About two lakh people rushed to Feni Sadar from different areas on 22 and 23 August in severe floods. Some stayed in shelters and some were under the open sky. Around Tk30,000 was distributed among 100 such flood victims.
As soon as the water started to recede, the distribution of food aid started. So far, 200 families have received food assistance in Chhagalnaiya, Daganbhuiyan, Feni Sadar, and Parshuram in Feni. The aid contained rice, pulses, potato, oil, sugar, salt, onion and pure water. Around 500 kilograms of rice were distributed among 100 families in Motbi union in Feni Sadar on 1 September. Shuvosangho district unit President Faizul Haque Bappi, Vice Presidents Anwarul Islam, Mahim Uddin Prithvi and General Secretary Nasim Anwar led the works.
Other members, including Amer Makki, Samar Debnath, Mizanur Rahman, Usayed Anwar, Dilruba Akter Ruma, Pitul Chowdhury, Rehana Parveen, Russell Chowdhury, and a bunch of young people worked day and night.
The people of Feni have praised the Shuvosangho members for their efforts since the beginning of the flood. Nasir Uddin Saimum, a local cultural personality, said Bashundhara Shuvosangho has set examples for other companies to stand by the people in crisis.
“People’s suffering would have been more if we had not worked together during such a big disaster,” he said.
High Court lawyer Minhajul Haque Mitul said, “The volunteer workers-organisers are our strength. The friends of Shuvosangho have been working for the people for many years.” Bashundhara Shuvosangho Feni district unit President Faizul Haque Bappi said the members now provide food assistance to various institutions.
“Food assistance is also being given to the affected families. We are supposed to have a medical camp in Chhagalnaiya next week,” he added.
Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
