Long-term planning needed alongside relief

Flood has hit northeastern regions of the country since the very beginning of this year's rainy season and the situation is deteriorating gradually. Low-lying areas of Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts have been inundated. The water of Khoai river in Habiganj is flowing above the danger level. Several villages have been flooded in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district as embankments break. Several lakh people in these areas are now stranded in floodwater.

Several hundred educational institutions have been shut following the flood. Most houses and roads have gone under water. Stagnation in business is found as communication system disrupts in the areas. With recession of floodwater, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases have been spreading sporadically among the flood-hit people.

The water level of the River Teesta is also flowing above the danger mark. Embankments have collapsed at different places in Sirajganj. Severe waterlogging has been caused in Chittagong city due to persistent rain. Fresh hillslides are feared in the hill tracts. Over 150 people were killed in the separate landslides triggered by heavy downpour in six districts including Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chittagong on June 12. Of them, at least 120 people were killed in Rangamati alone for which a panic is prevailing in the hill tracts.

It is seen that incidents like hillslides, flood, damage of crops and river erosion are seen to happen every year in this rainy season. Flood situation is worsening every day as it is raining heavily. The water level in rivers surges. The floodwater is entering into the locality as embankment breaks, causing untold sufferings to hundreds of people. The people trapped in water are passing a very miserable day. It can be apparently said that there is no remedy for it.

Experts say most rivers have lost their capability to retain additional water as the rivers become filled with sediments. As a result, flood is caused due to heavy rain and hill slopes. Many low-lying areas of the country are inundated due to the flood. Monsoon flood is not unnatural. There have been media reports of heavy rain and flood in northeastern areas of India. Indian state of Monipur has turned into a river. The flood situation may deteriorate more if the heavy rain persists in the parts of India and Bangladesh.

Considering this matter, additional relief materials should be kept ready for flood-affected people from now on. Specially, ensuring foods and pure drinking water for them is very urgent. Alongside the damage of crops, scarcity of food for cattle becomes acute during this time. Besides, people of flood-hit areas are being affected by various waterborne diseases. Communication system has been disrupted as flood submerges roads in many areas.

Under these circumstances, the administration should take immediate steps to stand by the people affected by flood. The administration will have to start working to overcome the loss caused by the flood to people alongside ensuring additional relief for them. There is no alternative to ensure early distribution of relief among flood-affected people and take preparation for rehabilitation for them. We have to stand by the distressed people. It is needed to take long-term preparedness and plan in order to rehabilitate them alongside distributing relief among them and ensuring immediate rescue operation.

It can be said that people of Bangladesh have been living with flood for decades. Flood helps increase the fertility of the land. But flood now creates waterlogging due to unplanned roads and installations. River erosion is on the rise. It is possible to control floodwater and prevent river erosion by protecting the navigability of rivers.

A very careful attention should be given to contain post-flood situation. Generally, various diseases break out soon after the floodwater recedes. Necessary steps should be taken from now on to prevent these diseases. The living of flood-affected people should be taken into account. We expect that the authorities concerned will consider these issues with importance.

risingbd/DHAKA/July 5, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Amirul