Thousands of residents of more than 150 villages under 30 unions of six upazilas in Kurigram district have been marooned for the last 11 days.
Although water in the 16 rivers of the district including Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dhorola and Dudhkumar, are still flowing below the danger level, the recent heavy downpour have left the residents in a miserable condition.
Around 76,000 people living on the chars and low-lying areas are hit hard by an acute crisis of food and pure drinking water.
Representatives of the flood-affected unions told the Dhaka Tribune that the rice supplied from the district’s stock of relief materials was not enough to meet the demand.
Many households in Bhogobotipur village by the Brahmaputra River went under water.
Around 200 families living in this village are relying on boats and rafts made from banana trees to move from one spot to another. Similar scenario was found in Parbotipur and other chars.
The day labourers of these villages have been without work for over a week now. The local representatives claimed that 10kg rice arrived for only 385 families.
Jatrapur Union Parishad Chairman Md Abdul Gafur said: “The amount of rice arriving here are insufficient for the population. Those who are not getting the relief materials, are coming to us, but we are not being able to provide them with anything.”
He urged the government to increase the relief supply here.
According to the Kurigram District Relief and Rehabilitation Centre, a total of 50 metric tonne rice have been distributed among the flood-affected people.
Kurigram District Relief and Rehabilitation Centre Officer Md Abdul Mottaleb Molla said: “The Directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation have sent 200 metric tonnes of rice in three upazilas: Sundarganj, Phulchhori and Shaghata.
Crops on 195 acres damaged in Gaibandha
The flood has left the farmers of Gaibandha in a helpless condition. Crops on 195 acres have been submerged causing serious loss to the farmers.
Gaibandha Agricultural Extension Office sources said the continuous rainfall and water flowing from Teesta, Brahmaputra and Jamuna have inundated crop fields in 14 unions under four upazlias: Gaibandha sadar, Sundarganj, Phulchhori, and Shaghata.
The water started to recede from June 17.