Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud's short visit to flood-hit Gaibandha has triggered anger among the affected people as the minister observed the flood situation from helicopter.
According to locals, the minister reached the district around 4pm on Tuesday and observed the flood situation from the helicopter for 15 minutes.
His chopper did not land on the ground. He also neither talk to the flood victims nor distributed any relief, said the locals, expressing dissatisfaction and wrath.
Gaibandha Water Development Board Executive Engineer Abdul Awal said: “The helicopter carried the minister reached the flood-hit areas of Fuljhuri under Saghata upazila in the afternoon. But, it did not land. He observed the flood situation from his helicopter for 15 minutes.”
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Maulana Mahbubur Rahman, a local school teacher, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It would be better if he visits the area and talked to the affected people. But, his helicopter did not land on the ground.”
Fazlupur union parishad chairman Zainal Abedin also claimed that he did not know anything about the visit beforehand.
He said: “The people of my area expected that they would share their sufferings with him during the visit. Besides, the ultra-poor people were expected to get relief.”
“Among 3,000 people, some 450 get relief since the flood hit my area,” he added.
After talking to the local representatives of the flood-affected areas of the district, the Dhaka Tribune has found that some 3,000 people got relief among 25,000 flood victims.
The minister was accompanied by his State Minister Nazrul Islam and WDB Director Shahidur Rahman.
Flood situation has deteriorated in many areas of the district as the river water has crossed the overflow level.
According to the WDB, the water level of Ghagat, Brahmaputra and Karatoya rivers are already flowing above the danger level since Monday night.
The water level of river Ghagat is flowing 13cm above the danger level. In the last 24 hours, the water level of river Brahmaputra is increased by 4cm while Karatoya river water level by 24cm.
More than 4,000 houses have been completely damaged while 8,000 have been partially affected due to the flood, said officials of District Department of Disaster Management and Relief.
