United News of Bangladesh

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

The government is taking steps to implement a Tk 7,340 crore project to build flood control embankments along the Muhuri, Kohua, and Silonia rivers in Feni through the Bangladesh Army, said Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Adviser Faruk-E-Azam on Saturday. “This will not be an ordinary project. It’s a massive project and will require top-level technical expertise and flawless execution. The embankments must be of the highest quality,” he said while visiting flood-hit areas in Fulgazi upazila of the district. The adviser said the current embankments in the region are inadequate for tackling such large-scale floods. “We need stronger embankments. The proposed project will be implemented with proper technological support and under appropriate authority,” he said. “Natural disasters can’t be prevented, but the government is fully prepared to deal with the aftermath,” he said, adding that the embankment project alone will cost around Tk 7,000 crore and will take time to implement. The Adviser visited Ali Azam High School flood shelter in Fulgazi around 10am. Feni flood situation getting better after pause in rainfall He also visited Azmiri Begum Girls High School shelter in Munshirhat and inspected a river erosion point along the Muhuri River at Dakkhin Sripur Purbopara. During his visit, local flood-affected residents informed the adviser about delays in receiving relief and alleged various irregularities by local administration. They also demanded a sustainable 122-kilometre flood control embankment along the three rivers. The overall flood situation in Feni has started to improve with water levels gradually receding. The low-lying areas in Chhagalnaiya, Feni Sadar, and Daganbhuiyan remain submerged, leaving nearly 40,000 people across 30 villages waterlogged. Initial assessments suggest over 1,000 fish enclosures and ponds, and around 1,655 hectares of Aman seedbeds have been damaged. The livestock sector in Parshuram, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas alone has suffered losses worth Tk 6.49 crore.