Cumilla flood: Aid mostly reaching people near riverbanks, boat shortage bars wider distribution

Centenarian Arifur Rahman lives in Pipodda village in Cumilla’s Nangalkot Upazila. He is still able to walk and go to the mosque. He also does different chores at home.

The fast-streaming water from India and the continuous rain for the last few days submerged the centenarian’s house.

Arifur says he has never seen so much flood water in his entire life.

He also expressed his frustration over the relief for the flood victims.

“I’m almost 110 years old. I never even heard my father speak of such a severe flood. I haven’t seen anything like it either. I wonder where so much floodwater came from. People’s houses are submerged in water. The roads are all flooded,” he said.

“I feel very sad at the plight of the flood victims. I feel worse when I see that those who are suffering more aren't getting relief. Those living near the riverbanks or roads are getting more relief goods. But those living next to other rivers and canals aren’t receiving it. I would request those giving aid to distribute it equally.”

Many others living in remote areas have raised the same complaints.

They say those coming to distribute relief goods from outside Cumilla mostly travelled in trucks. However, they cannot reach the flood victims as most of the roads are submerged. In some places, the roads are damaged.

Hence they need boats or speedboats to send the aid to the flood victims. But now there is a shortage of boats and speedboats. As such, those living near the roads or busy riverbanks are getting more aid.

Whenever a truck brings in aid, people are rushing to the spot and blocking it. These people get the aid repeatedly, but others do not. In some places, attacks were reported on relief trucks.

People trapped in floodwater near the Gomti River raised such complaints on Thursday.

The flood situation worsened in Burichang and Brahmanpara Upazilas due to the breaching of the dam on the Gomti River and the erosion on the Salda and Ghungur rivers. The two Upazilas seem awash in water. Currently, Burichang is seeing the most relief coming in from all over the country.

The relief trucks enter Burichang from Cumilla’s Shashongachha via Palpara Bridge and Kalkharpar area. People from different slums in Cumilla city wait on those roads. Some of them are not even flood victims.

Whenever trucks arrive, they are swarmed and cannot move much further. Even if they manage to make a little headway, relief workers cannot reach their destinations due to a shortage of boats.

Burichang Press Club General Secretary Zahirul Haque Babu said that those who needed relief were not getting it while some people were getting it repeatedly. “We have seen a lack of discipline from the beginning of the flooding this time,” he said.

“Whenever the relief trucks move forward through Cumilla city, a group of people surround them. Almost all of them are not flood victims. They’re just trying to grab the relief goods meant for flood victims. Had the army and administration taken control, the relief goods would have reached the flood-affected areas and people could live on them for a few days. People wouldn’t have to cry out like this.”

Burichang Upazila executive officer Shahida Akter acknowledged that such incidents were happening.

“You can say that our Upazila is still afloat. The water level is rising regularly. Union council secretaries are taking food aid to remote areas. We’re trying to distribute the aid equally,” she said.

“Meanwhile, relief trucks were attacked in some places. The army is working in the field but we need more assistance from them. We’re working to address all the issues.”

Anwar Hossain, a resident of Nagaish in Brahmanpara said that a hundred percent of the villages in the Upazila were flooded and the flood victims were not getting enough relief goods. The aid is mostly taken at the entry point to the road. People living in the remote areas are suffering the most, he said, adding a dearth of pure drinking water prevailed in the flood-affected villages.

“The government aid (in money) allocated for the Upazila has almost run out. Currently, the relief goods cannot reach here via Burichang as all the roads are submerged,” said Brahmanpara Upazila executive officer SM Azharul Islam.

“Those who want to take part in the relief work can enter Brahmanpara through Muradnagar’s Companiganj. We request everyone to use that route to bring relief aid,” he said.

The district administration’s data showed that floodwater had receded in some parts, but Cumilla’s flood situation had yet to improve. At least 14 of 17 Upazilas in the district were severely flooded. The number of people trapped in floodwater in the 14 Upazilas stands at 1.1 million.

However, locals claimed the number was much higher.

Meanwhile, Bangodda, North Raikot, South Raikot, Moukora, Dhalua, Satbaria, and Bokshganj union in Nangalkot Upazila adjacent to the riverbank of the Dakatia River, had received minimal relief aid due to being in remote areas.

“I’m at home alone and sent my family to our relatives’ homes. I’m almost starving. Only those staying in the flood shelters and on the roads are getting the relief,” said Amir Hossain of North Raikot Uttar.

Nangalkot Upazila was fully flooded, said its Upazila executive officer Suraiya Akter Lucky. Two-storey or three-storey buildings of the educational institutions are used as shelters, she said, adding the administration was working to provide relief to all flood victims.

Flood victims in Manoharganj Upazila’s Sharifpur, Bagchatol, Burprishto, Chilua, Saraspur, North Howla, Maroho, Gaziapara, Shaktala, and Keari said they had received limited aid.

“We’re marooned by water for a week and are crying out for relief goods. But people aren’t getting any help. We heard that whatever relief was coming, people staying on the roads are taking it,” said Delwar Hossain, who is living in Chilua.

All education institutions in flood-affected remote areas have been declared as flood shelters, said Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Khandekar Mushfiqur Rahman. He said they were distributing relief goods, dry food, saline and medicine among the flood victims.

“We’re keeping an eye on things at all times. We’re running rescue mission for the trapped people and ensuring those living in the remote areas get food aid,” he said.