Dulal Mia, Sunamganj

The flood situation is improving in Sunamganj. Displaced people have started returning to their homes from shelters. Flood water is slowly moving away from houses and roads. Flood wounds are floating.
As the flood waters receded, there was relief among the flood-affected people, but they were still suffering. There is a shortage of fresh water in flood affected areas.  People are cleaning their houses as the water in different areas has receded. A foul smell is emanating from the stagnant water.  On the other hand, outbreaks of water-borne diseases have occurred in areas where water has receded.

Sunamganj has been flooded since June 16.  Numerous houses, public and private institutions, educational institutions and roads have been flooded. Ponds and farm fish have been washed away.  Initially, Sunamganj Sadar, Bishwambharpur, Chhatak  and Doarabazar upazilas were affected but later all the upazilas of the district were affected by floods.
On the other hand, the rural roads of 12 upazilas of the district have been severely damaged by flood water.  100 kilometers of roads including bridges, culverts, dirt roads and mud roads have been damaged, said the executive engineer of LGED, Directorate of Local Government Engineering Anwar Hossain.
The agriculture and fisheries sector of the district suffered the most damage in the flood.  Aushdhan is drowned in Flood  water.  Summer vegetables are spoiled.  Bimal Chandra Som, Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Extension Directorate, said that 1500 hectares of ausdhaan and 500 hectares of vegetables were damaged in the district.
District Fisheries Directorate said that 8,000 pond fish and juvenile fish were washed away in 12 upazilas of the district by flood water.  Small and medium farmers have suffered huge losses.  District Fisheries Officer said that the amount will exceed hundreds of crores of rupees Shamsul Karim.
On Monday, the picture of flood damage was observed by visiting the flood-affected areas of Sadar and Shantiganj Upazila.  The scars left by the floods are visible in the houses of many villages in the middle of Haor.  Many families are living helpless in damaged houses and muddy environment.
The flood-affected families have asked for the help of the government to turn around.
Liton Mia of Kandagaon village of Sunamganj Sadar Upazila Laxmanshree Union said, the flood has damaged my house a lot.  The waves washed away the soil of my home.  The water flow destroyed the fence of the house. I don’t know how to fix these.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashed Iqbal Chowdhury said, now the relief work is going on.The government is working to bring the victims under the rehabilitation.