The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Sokhina Bewa does not where she will get shelter to live, now she is seen seating alone beside the embankment of the mighty river Teesta at Gobordhan area under Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat She looks the water of Teesta and thinking the recent flood and erosion by Teesta have devoured her family. Sokhina Bewa,60, widow of late Mahmud Ali at Gobordhan village has been living with her two unmarried daughters and two sons and their wives with four sons. Her husband was died ten years ago. Sokhina and her family had been living through cultivating 6 acres of land at the village. But in the last week they were reeled by flood water and after improved flood situation they had to face Teesta river erosion. Her total cultivable lands and homestead have already gone into the womb of Teesta river in the last three days, resulting Sokhina and her family totally become shelter less, now living on Teesta flood control dump at Mohiskhocha area.

Maleka Bewa, another flood affected victim by Teesta river water at the village Rajpur under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, looking yesterday Wednesday morning collecting leaf of Kochu at beside the Airport road in the town, told her sorrowful story to this correspondent

Maleka Bewa,62, widow of late Khabir Uddin had two bighas of land. She had a straw made house but her homestead with her only a straw made house has already been devoured by the Teesta river erosion in the last week, made her homeless, landless. Maleka has taken shelter at her relative house at Kalmati village under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila. For her living bread, Maleka collecting leaf of Kochu wher and there and then she sold it in the town market earning only 15 to 20 taka per day that is not sufficient for her.

Her husband was died twelve years and she had been living on cultivation her two bighas land, she told. Maleka also told that she has not son but have two daughters who were married, also they are flood affected victims at Khuniya Gachh village under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila.

Maleka alleged that she did not get any relief goods from the government even from any social organizations or NGO.

Flood affected victims in the district waiting for help of government They are looking very kindles due to they lost their assets, lands, by flood water and erosion.

According to the Lalmonirhat district administration record, in the recent flood 1 lakh 26 thousand 5 hundred and 56 people of 26 thousand 862 families at 17 unions in 42 unions of 5 upazilas in Lalmonirhat district become flood affected victim. Standing crops of 3982 acres land at theses flood affected areas damaged and 226 kilometers Katcha road have been damaged, two children were drowned in the flood water, 25 kilometers flood dump were damaged and 34 establishments both government and non government and the total 8220 houses were damaged.

But the unofficial sources recorded that in the recent flood about 2 lakh people of 50 thousand families at 17 unions in 42 unions of 5 upazilas in Lalmonirhat district become flood affected victim. Standing crops of 5 thousand acres of land at theses flood affected areas damaged and the total 15 thousand houses were damaged and four persons were drowned in the fold water.

The government has allocated only Tk 9 lakh 50 thousand and 295 metric tons rice as relief good to flood affected people in Lalmonirhat district, that is very minor as per required of flood affected people.

The exact figure of damaging by recent flood yet to be known from the government concerned official. Perhaps, Tk 50 crores amount damaged by the recent flood. Of them Tk 12 crores in fisheries sector, Tk 20 crores in agriculture sector and rest other 18 crore of public propriety, told an unofficial source at DC office.