United News of Bangladesh

As floodwaters begin to recede across Feni, thousands of displaced residents are returning to their homes only to be met with devastation and despair.  The battle for survival has entered a new phase, marked by waterlogged dwellings, broken furniture, spoiled food and widespread uncertainty. The immediate threat of floodwaters may have passed, but the scars of the deluge are evident across the district.  Many areas remain without electricity, with recovery efforts struggling to keep pace with the damage. At least 484 people from 130 families continue to seek refuge in nine local shelters, while around 9,076 people have already left temporary accommodations to attempt rebuilding their lives in damaged homes. Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Faria Islam said power restoration is still pending in several locations.  “Although water has receded, several homes remain uninhabitable. We are working in coordination with power and health departments,” she said. Since 8 July, the rivers Muhuri, Kahuya and Silonia began swelling following continuous rain and upstream water from Tripura.  The resulting floods swept through Fulgazi, Parshuram, Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar upazilas. According to the district administration, over 150,000 residents were marooned by the flooding, and more than 1,000 homes were either partially or completely destroyed.  Roads, bridges, agricultural land and educational institutions were severely affected. In Fulgazi Bazar’s Shripur Road area, river erosion swept away at least 15 shops.  Md Abdul Alim, a local trader, lost his only means of income.  ‘When waters rise, our dreams drown’: Feni cries out for sustainable future “The river took away my shop in a single day. I ran my family with that income. Now I stand here, empty-handed, with no idea how to survive,” he said. Residents who returned to their homes are finding conditions unlivable.  Rozina Akhter from Gojaria village said, “The water has gone, but we can’t enter our home. Mud, stench from spoiled food, and filth have made the place unlivable. The children are falling sick. Even in shelters, we are getting very little support.” The Water Development Board (WDB) reported that embankments were breached at 36 points along the Muhuri, Kahuya, and Silonia rivers—19 in Parshuram and 17 in Fulgazi.  Earlier, the board had recorded 20 breaches within four days. Akhtar Hossain, WDB executive engineer in Feni, said geo-bags are being used to contain breaches, but sustainable solutions are required.  “We have been trying to contain the breaches using geo-bags, but sustainable embankments and long-term river dredging plans are urgently needed,” he said. The Department of Agricultural Extension confirmed that 5,564.61 hectares of cropland were affected.  The Fisheries Department recorded losses of Tk 8.12 crore, while the Department of Livestock reported damages amounting to Tk 64.88 lakh.  Final estimates are expected once all floodwaters have fully receded. Md Harun, a poultry and fish farmer from Komua village, said he is facing the same nightmare again.  “Last year, the flood cost me over Tk 20 lakh. This time, chickens died, and fish enclosures were washed away again. Every year the same story—embankments break, the water comes, and we get promises. These disasters have become routine,” he said. Tk 7,340 cr flood control embankment to be built in Feni: Adviser Calls for temporary aid are gradually being replaced by demands for permanent solutions. Former upazila chairman Aminul Rasul Golap said people in Phulgazi are no longer seeking relief. “They want strong embankments. Without proper river dredging, maintenance, and oversight, annual floods will continue to drown us,” he said. Parshuram UNO Ariful Islam said relief efforts are ongoing, but resources remain limited.  “We are listing affected people and planning rehabilitation in phases,” he added. Feni Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said, “We have allocated Tk 23.5 lakh for relief distribution. An additional Tk 40 lakh has been sought from the Disaster Management Ministry for dry food, cattle feed, and baby food. The army is assisting with relief efforts. The situation is gradually improving, and support for affected families will continue.” In August last year, Feni experienced one of the worst floods in its history.  The disaster claimed 29 lives and affected more than 10 lakh people.  Feni’s low-lying areas disappear under rising waters leaving no land in sight Total damages were estimated at Tk 2,686.20 crore, impacting homes, roads, schools, transport, and businesses across the district.  

As the monsoon set in, the people of Feni were once again devastated by flooding, a recurring tragedy that left behind deep and unhealed scars. As the destruction recurs, one question continues to echo: will a sustainable embankment ever be built? Will the people of Feni ever be spared the horrors of recurring floods? On Saturday, Faruk-e-Azam, Adviser to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, visited the flood-hit areas in Feni. Local residents seized the opportunity to press their demand for durable embankments. In response, the adviser mentioned that a project worth Tk 7,340 crore has been proposed for embankment construction in Feni. Rushing waters from upstream India broke through embankments in the Parshuram and Fulgazi areas, submerging low-lying villages in Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar upazilas. As of Friday, embankments in 23 spots have collapsed, flooding 112 villages and affecting around 34,600 people. Thousands in border-adjacent Fulgazi, Parshuram, Chhagalnaiya and parts of Feni Sadar are enduring significant hardship. Roads have gone under water, halting all vehicular movement. Power cuts and lack of mobile network connectivity have further complicated the situation for flood-affected families. Tk 7,340 cr flood control embankment to be built in Feni: Adviser As the floodwaters begin to recede, the extent of the damage is becoming clear. In Parshuram, about 50 homes have collapsed. “Just a year after the last flood, we’re submerged again,” lamented elderly Razia Begum of Uttar Sripur in Fulgazi, as she stood waterlogged in her home. She went on to say, “Everything is ruined. Floods in July and August have become a norm for this region. Sometimes I feel like being born here was a mistake.” Razia is not alone. Each year, residents of northern upazilas like Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya suffer the same fate. This time, three consecutive days of heavy rainfall combined with upstream water from India have broken 23 embankment points along the Muhuri, Kahua and Silonia rivers. With water engulfing new areas every hour, life in these regions remains paralysed. Ali Azam, a resident of Uttar Sripur in Fulgazi, described the ferocity of the current, saying, “Water is pouring through the breached embankments with strong currents. New areas are flooding by the hour. Just like last year, we are again struggling with power outages and mobile network failures. Regardless of which political party is in power, our fate never seems to change.” Feni flood situation getting better after pause in rainfall

Flood conditions have started to improve in Parshuram upazila of Feni district as rainfall and river water levels subside, locals and authorities said on Friday. However, a state of water logging continues in Fulgazi and Chhagalnaiya as of Friday morning. Floodwater, triggered by breaches in upstream embankments in India, has flowed from Parshuram and Fulgazi into Chhagalnaiya and various low-lying areas of Feni Sadar. According to district Water Development Board officials, 21 breaches in embankments along the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers have flooded over 100 villages across Parshuram, Fulgazi, Chhagalnaiya, and parts of Sadar upazila since Monday. The flooding has left thousands waterlogged and many roads submerged and cut off transportation. The absence of electricity and mobile networks has worsened the crisis. While Parshuram sees gradual improvement, new areas in Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar are still being inundated by floodwaters. On Friday, floodwater flowed one to two feet above the Feni-Fulgazi and Feni-Chhagalnaiya regional roads. Feni’s low-lying areas disappear under rising waters leaving no land in sight According to the district administration around 7,000 people have taken refuge in 50 designated shelters while over 20,000 affected residents are receiving food and relief support from the administration and local volunteers.  

Handing over the newly built houses to flood victims, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the joint efforts have set an example of working together "honestly and perfectly" to deal with any disaster effectively. "This is a small project on construction of three hundred houses, but the example we have set of working together properly and honestly through this will motivate us," he said thanking the Bangladesh Army and others involved for completing the project on time and maintaining quality. Joining virtually from the Chief Adviser's Office, Prof Yunus handed over the houses (keys) to the flood victims of August-September last year. Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Principal Secretary Md Siraz Uddin Miah also spoke, among others, at the function at the CAO. Four beneficiaries from Feni, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cumilla districts joined the ceremony virtually and expressed their satisfaction at the ceremony moderated by Md Monirul Islam Patwary, Director of Ashrayan-2 Project. An initial allocation of Tk 50 crore had been allocated from the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund for the construction of the houses. Approximately Tk 24, 98, 95000 had been spent on the construction of 300 houses. Three months after Feni flood 1,718 families left with nothing, struggling for aid "We are pleased that the funds were utilized efficiently. Despite various challenges, the work was completed to a high standard. It's a wonderful job," Prof Yunus said, noting that the Bangladesh Army has completed the construction of the houses smoothly with great effort and efficiency. The Chief Adviser congratulated all those who have got houses. "The courage that the people of the country have given you by standing by your side will always be in your mind." Thanking everyone involved in the implementation of this project, Prof Yunus said, "I sincerely thank everyone who worked tirelessly in this work and provided a place for homeless families to rest, especially the local administration, members of the Armed Forces Division, LGED engineers and the officers of the shelter project." hoped that the Bangladesh Army would stand by the country’s people in any future disaster, too.the aftermath of the devastating flood that hit the country’s southeastern region in August-September last year, he said the people of the four districts were affected in the flood, while many lost their houses.The Chief Adviser said it was the government’s responsibility to stand by the flood-affected people, and that was why it took on the special housing construction project immediately after the flood. He said those who lost houses in the flood have now got their resorts where they would be able to live with their family members. Prof Yunus urged the beneficiaries to ensure education for their children so that they can be good human beings and good entrepreneurs. On behalf of the Chief Adviser, the deputy commissioners of the four districts handed over the keys of houses among the beneficiaries. A total of 110 houses were distributed among the beneficiaries in Feni, while 90 houses in Noakhali, 70 houses in Cumilla and 30 houses in Chattogram. Feni flooding: People struggling to stand on foot after flood