Experts and politicians on Sunday underscored the need for a separate institutional structure for the development of char areas. Speaking at the annual Regional Char Convention 2021, they also said the population of the country’s char areas often remains isolated and development benefits do not reach them adequately in many cases for many reasons, including poor infrastructure. The experts suggested increasing allocation under the social safety net for the marginalised people in the char areas as they are the worst sufferers of the adverse impacts of climate change. Also read: Proper steps urged for char areas’ development SHOUHARDO III Program, funded by USAID, in association with the National Char Alliance (NCA) jointly organised the day-long event at Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service, said a press release. Dr Atiur Rahman, founding chair of the National Char Alliance and ex-governor of the Bangladesh Bank, emphasised establishing an institutional structure or a forum for the development of Bangladesh’s char regions. Of the TK 1000 crore of the Social Safety Net, he said, only Tk 217 crore has been allocated for the char regions covering a population of only 94,000. “This allocation has to be increased.” Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem highlighted the development interventions by the government, especially by the Water Resources Ministry. Also read:Call for inclusive approach for development of char regions About the Mujib Fort (shelters), he said it is an innovative model where both people and cattle can take shelter during natural disasters. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP, said, “We need to establish a semi-government Char Foundation/Board for the development of the char region. Uninterrupted policy interventions are also needed in this regard.”

At least 11,309 family’s  lives have become disrupted as cyclone Yaas damaged 23 chars of coastal district Bhola. District’s relief and rehabilitation officer, Md. Motahar Hossain told UNB at least 1, 70,000 people have been affected by the cyclone. Meanwhile primary data says, 659 villages of 51 union of the island district have been affected. Of them 3,579 families are homeless now and 7,370 are facing partial damage. People of several chars like Dhal char, char Kukri-Mukri, Char Nizam, Kolatolir char, char Jahiruddin, Madanpur, Neyamatpur, Majher char and Rajapur are passing their days in extreme condition. Also read: Two Satkhira unions bear the brunt of Yaas However, around 200 thousand people who have been directly affected by the cyclone are yet to receive any significant aid other than dry foods. In 50 places, 16 protective dams of the flood control dam have been destroyed. Until Friday, the level of tidal water had lowered but clogged saline water in water bodies made fresh water and cow food scarce. This resulted in a plague of domestic animals in the char region. District’s livestock Officer Indrajit Kumar said, death of 134 animals have been reported till Saturday. In southern char areas buffalos are being infected with many diseases but our team is providing necessary treatments, he said. There is no lack of relief as district administration already provided tin and financial assistance to those who have become completely homeless, said relief and rehabilitation officer, Md. Motahar Hossain. “Affected are being listed, they will soon be rehabilitated,” he said. Meanwhile, the restoration work of  critically damaged dams to block tidal waves has already started, said Md. Hasanujjaman, executive engineer of Bhola Water Development Board.