TDS Desk:

“It used to rain a lot during the monsoon before, but I did not see this much water then. There was no flood. Our homes were not submerged. Why is it happening this time?”

A 65-year-old resident, Jamal Uddin, from Chhagalnaiya upazila of Feni, was sharing his miseries.

He said: “I have a family of seven, including my wife, two sons, two daughters, and my sons’ wives. We had four cows. We managed to bring them to shore, floating them through the water. Now, I have kept them in a field. I have placed my wife and children in a nearby brick-built madrasa. At least 400 men and women like my family have taken refuge in that madrasa.”

Jamal Uddin continued: “Water started entering my house on Tuesday. Gradually, the water level kept rising. At one point, the water inside the house was up to my waist. Initially, I tried to elevate our belongings. Despite this, due to the rising water, I had to leave the house with my family members to save our lives. My fridge, clothes, and other items were damaged in the water. Now, only the tin roof of my house is visible. The rest is submerged. For the past four  to five days, I have been sleeping on a CNG autorickshaw parked in the field, waiting for the water to recede so I can go home.”

Meanwhile, the water has receded in Feni compared to the last few days. However, many families, including roads and buildings, are still underwater.

Sakib Uddin, a resident of Rauzan upazila in Chittagong and a member of the Chittagong Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said: “Most upazilas including Chhagalnaiya, Fulgazi, Parshuram, and Sonagazi in Feni were submerged. Our team came to Feni with relief on Wednesday. We have been bringing relief from Chittagong daily. We brought two engine-powered boats on the first day. We rescued many residents stranded in the water with these boats and brought them to shore. Roads and homes are still submerged.”

Sakib further said: “Seeing the condition of the people here on the first day, we were terrified. We thought there would be many fatalities. But people from across the country have come forward to help the flood victims, which has saved the residents of Feni from major damage.”

Minhajul Islam, a resident of Akbar Shah area in Chittagong, said: “On Saturday morning, a team came to Feni with a thousand packets of dry food and water. We brought an engine boat and distributed these food items to the residents stranded in shelters and multi-story buildings. The living conditions here are very inhumane.”

Najrul Islam, a volunteer, said: “Those who are in shelters, multi-story buildings, and on the roofs of their homes do not want to come ashore. They want relief aid to be brought to them. Dry food is being sent, but many have reported not getting as much water as they need. There is a significant shortage of clean water here.”

On Saturday morning, in the area near Mohuri Bridge, several local engine boats were observed available, but they were demanding high fares.

A few relief bringers from far-off places reported until Friday, boat rentals were available for Tk5,000 to Tk6,000 per day. Now, they are demanding more than Tk12,000 daily. The local boat operators have formed a syndicate.”

Since Saturday morning, relief-laden trucks and pickups have been entering the area near Mohuri Bridge, one after another. Relief is being brought from Chittagong and various other places.

Some voluntary organizations have been seen cooking and delivering food to those trapped by the flood. A large part of Feni’s Lalpol is still underwater.

Many homes and buildings beside the road are still submerged, and thousands of cargo-laden vehicles are stuck on the road. The army and navy teams are also in Feni, rescuing those trapped by the flood and providing relief assistance.