'We don't want relief, we want permanent solution to waterlogging'

Due to the lack of a proper drainage system, the Betna River floods every year during the monsoon season, causing prolonged waterlogging in over a hundred villages in the low-lying areas of Satkhira. This year's heavy rainfall and high tidal water have exacerbated the situation, extending the already miserable life of millions trapped by the floodwaters. Their mud houses and cattle sheds have collapsed, the sanitation system has broken down, and crops, including paddy, are rotting in the fields. Many have been financially devastated as millions of taka worth of fish farms have been washed away. Desperate villagers report that they are living in extreme distress, often going without food due to a lack of relief supplies, while the scarcity of clean drinking water has led to cries of despair. Waterborne diseases are spreading, and alongside humans, thousands of livestock are at risk due to food shortages and poor health conditions.

On-site investigations reveal that at least 127 villages in the Sadar, Ashashuni, and Tala upazilas near the Betna River suffer from severe waterlogging during every monsoon season. This is primarily because the river has lost its depth, and its elevated bed causes the surrounding areas to flood. Additionally, for two decades, these villages have suffered from mismanagement of the Mitra-Tentulia sluice gate, which is the only drainage outlet for the water. This year’s heavy rainfall and tidal surges have resulted in a catastrophic flood situation, leaving around 125,000 villagers with nothing.

In the Kadakati and Kulya areas of Ashashuni, the Dholihor area of Satkhira Sadar, and the Khesra and Khalishkhali unions of Tala, floodwaters are supposed to drain through the Morichchapa River via the Mitra Tentulia sluice gate. However, during a visit to the site, it was found that a missing nut and bolt on the gate has allowed a strong influx of tidal water, worsening the flood situation. Locals have complained that despite temporary repairs being made over the past four days, no officials from the Water Development Board have visited the site.
The affected communities, frustrated by the negligence of the concerned departments and poorly planned initiatives, have expressed deep dissatisfaction. After being trapped in water for at least a month and a half, they said, "We don't want relief; we want a permanent solution to the waterlogging through proper drainage systems."

The flood situation has severely deteriorated in more than a hundred villages in Dhulihor and Brahmarajpur unions, near the Betna River, in the Sadar upazila. Entire villages are submerged. Homes, kitchens, toilets, cattle sheds, and even cemeteries are underwater. Many villagers are abandoning their homes, taking their cattle, goats, ducks, and chickens to safer shelters.

On Tuesday, October 9, during a day-long visit, residents of Borodol, Gobindpur, and Baluaigacha villages in Dhulihor Union spoke of their unbearable suffering. Ahad Ali from Gobindpur village said, "Everything, including our homes, is underwater. We haven’t been able to cook at home for the past week. Even though we have rice, there’s no way to cook it. We’re barely surviving on dry food like puffed rice. We haven't received any relief supplies from either the government or NGOs yet."

Journalist Mehedi Hasan Shimul, also from Gobindpur village, said that the excessive rainfall this year has caused persistent waterlogging, and people have lost everything, leaving them destitute.

Abdus Samad from Borodol village added, "Everything is destroyed. There’s no space to even stand. The sanitation system has collapsed, and the waterlogged people are in despair. Some have managed to bring portable stoves from the market to cook on tin roofs or verandas, but most are going without food. So far, no one has come to see our suffering, and we haven’t received any relief supplies. I’ve never seen so many people starving like this before."
Syed Ahmed, Satkhira Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said that villages like Goalpota, Mashkhola, Sanle, Nehalpur, Asandanga, Matiadanga, and Yugipota, which were initially affected by the heavy rainfall, have already received 15 tons of food aid. Relief distribution is ongoing for newly affected people. Additionally, 20 water pumps have been activated to drain water from the waterlogged areas.

For 45 days, 3,000 families in 10 villages of Kadakati Union in Ashashuni Upazila have been trapped by the water. Approximately 13,000 people are living in dire conditions, especially the elderly, women, and children, who are facing extreme hardship after their mud houses and cattle sheds collapsed. People are furious, struggling with hunger and thirst, as they have received no clean drinking water or aid from either the government or non-governmental organizations.

BNP leader and former Union Parishad (UP) member, Zahidul Islam, said that in Kadakati Union, the villages of Kadakati, Parakadakati, Joduardanga, Kabirkhani, Tangrakhali, Korchakhali, Jhikra, Talbariya, Purba Kadakati, and Parkhejurdanga are submerged, with houses, cattle sheds, mosques, temples, schools, and madrasas all underwater. There is no way for flood victims to cook meals or use latrines, and there is no feed available for livestock. In these remote areas, boats or rafts are the only means of transportation, so elderly people and children have been sent to relatives’ houses for safety. The situation with livestock has worsened, as many cows have either been moved to roadsides or sent elsewhere. Several animals have died due to the food shortage.

Zahirul Islam urged the Deputy Commissioner to take immediate action to ensure proper drainage, as well as provide dry food and fodder for livestock.

Sohag Khan, Upazila Project Implementation Officer, stated that 12 metric tons of rice have been requested for the flood victims in Kadakati Union, along with 200 packets of dry food. No government shelters have been opened yet, but a list of damaged houses and affected people will be sent to the Deputy Commissioner.
Upazila Public Health Engineer Mostafizur Rahman said that the Upazila administration is distributing 3,000 liters of clean drinking water daily, and more will be supplied if needed.

Continuous rainfall and water pressure from nearby areas have left 17 villages in Tentulia Union of Tala Upazila flooded, including Shirashuni, Lautaura, Panchrokhi, Subhashuni, Modonpur, and Sumajdipur. Along with homes, water has entered schools in Terchi, Kalapota, Hatbas, Shirashuni, Lautaura Panchrokhi, and Subhashuni Degree College, as well as mosques, temples, and churches. The entire union has been cut off from the Upazila headquarters. Over 3,000 families, with a population of around 12,000, are trapped by floodwaters and struggling in this critical situation, especially due to a lack of clean drinking water. The collapse of sanitation systems has led to a rise in skin diseases, waterborne illnesses, and diarrhea. Farmers' crops are rotting underwater, and nearly 1,000 fish farms have been submerged, with farm owners claiming losses of 30 to 40 million taka. The Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations of the Hindu community have also come to a halt at several temples.

Alo Mati Das, Prakash Das, Ganesh Das, and Alauddin Gazi from Panchrokhi village, Abdul Khaleq from Modonpur village, Subashi Das from Sumajdipur village, and Momin Sheikh, Shamima Akhter, Salma Begum, Asma Begum, Alamgir Hossain, and Achiya Begum from Shirashuni village expressed their desire for a permanent solution to the waterlogging that has trapped them in their homes.

Commenting on the situation, the Tentulia UP Chairman said that the continuous rainfall is the main cause of the flooding. The water from this area is supposed to drain through the Bhodra River in Keshabpur Upazila of Jashore district. However, the sluice gate of the Nonniya canal there is blocked by silt deposits, preventing the water from draining. The canal and riverbeds have also risen, and the sluice gate is now submerged under four to five feet of water.

He further added, “The water in this union cannot drain properly due to the continuous rainfall. Unless the silt is removed, a logical solution to this problem will not be possible.”

Tala Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Md. Russell said, “Water coming from the neighboring district of Jashore is causing increased waterlogging in our upazila. Efforts are underway to resolve the issue, but the situation should normalize once the rain stops.”