More than 0.15 million people in 36 villages of Matarbari and Dhalghata in Moheshkhali are suffering as cyclone Komen destroyed embankments in 12km areas.
Areas such as Kutubjom, Shaplapur and Badarkhali have seen erosion and sea water enters through broken embankments.
On Sunday, the high tide crossed the usual height.
The cyclone wreaked all the embankments in Tiakati, Rangakhali, Merghona, Puran Bazar, Saraitala and Bharatghona areas while sea water has submerged the villages.
Villagers have blamed the local authorities for this.
Ahsan Ullah Bachchu, chairman of Dhalghata union, stressed that rebuilding the embankments should be the priority. “Otherwise, this will no longer remain a suitable area to live. There will also be uncertainty over the government’s coal power plant project.”
Mahbub Kamal, general secretary of Matarbari-Dhalghata Nagorik Kalyan Forum, said there was no attempt to repair or rebuild embankments as government organisations were divided over who would initiate the task.
The project implementation officer in Moheshkhali, Shafiul Alam Shakib, said almost 90% of the residents in the upazila are marooned.
“The upazila authorities have distributed dry foods among these people. They are also trying to provide other assistance,” he added.
Md Anwarul Naser, Moheshkhali upazila nirbahi officer, described the situation in Matarbari and Dhalghata as pitiful.
“People are marooned and their sufferings continue to rise. All the union parishad chairmen have been asked to draw up a list of people who have been affected by high tide,” he said.
Anwarul also said the Water Development Board had been asked to repair embankments taking into account the urgency of the situation.
Md Hossain Ibrahim, chairman of Moheshkhali upazila parishad chairman, said the embankments are usually fixed every year.
“But locals attempted to do so this year without waiting for the authorities to take steps. Japan International Cooperation Agency, which was awarded the coal power plant project deal, resisted locals and as a result, Matarbari and Dhalghata now almost lie in ruins after the cyclonic storm lashed the areas,” he said.
The chairman estimated that some 2,500-3,000 houses in the areas had been razed to the ground and immediate rehabilitation measures were necessary. We are visiting the afflicted areas every day, said Md Sabibur Rahman, executive engineer of Cox’s Bazar office of Water Development Board.
He said the damaged structures would be fixed once weather conditions improved.
Asheq Ullah Rafiq, lawmaker of Cox’s Bazar 2, said relief materials had been arranged for families who lost abodes in the unusual high tide in the last two days.
“The broken embankments will soon be repaired as well,” he added.
