Vast areas of eastern Bangladesh still remain inundated after devastating flood that started almost three weeks ago as floodwater is receding very slowly due to various obstacles to the outflow of water.
The opening of the gates at Dambur hydroelectric project in Tripura of India sent a torrent of water flooding the bordering districts of Bangladesh. Since August 20, heavy rain coupled with the release of water from upstream triggered severe flooding in 11 districts, including Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Lakshmipur and Brahmanbaria. Nearly 100 people died in flooding.
Now although there has been no heavy rain for five to six days, many people are still stranded. Floodwater is receding slowly in Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur.
Visiting some areas, it was found that vast areas have been devastated by floods in Chhagalnaiya, Daganbhuiyan, Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas of Feni, Senbagh and Sonaimuri upazilas of Noakhali, and Manoharganj upazila of Cumilla.
Environmentalists, experts and also many local people are now reluctant to call it flooding. They call this situation waterlogging. According to them, there was heavy rain upstream. Various areas are still under floodwater because water can’t drain out due to lack of navigability in rivers and canals in this region, unplanned development, mismanagement and other manmade obstructions to the natural flow of water.
“How long does flood last? Now it should be called waterlogging rather than flooding,” local social worker Saiful Islam said while talking to the Bangladesh Post at Silonia Bazar under Daganbhuiyan upazila in Feni.
“Flood has been prolonged due to the loss of the natural flow of water. Keeping in view the immediate needs of crop production, we are blocking the water with dams, embankments sluice gates. That is why it is now should be called waterlogging,” said Kafayet Shakil, an environment journalist who hails from Feni.
Experts also agreed with the local people, saying that the floodwater is coming down very slowly and this is now waterlogging instead of flooding.
Mohammad Azaz, chairman of River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC); accused India of deliberately controlling the flow of the Feni River and other rivers and criticized the government of Sheikh Hasina for failing to address the issue effectively.
“The full control of the Feni River is in the hands of India. The neighbouring country can put the people of Bangladesh in danger by cutting the dam in one day. This flood is an example of that. India has constructed 68 dams in 54 transboundary rivers. However, rivers and environment have been destroyed in the name of development in Bangladesh. As a result, the flood is prolonged. The flood was not supposed to last more than 10 days. But Bangladesh has been flooded for three weeks and it will continue for some other days,” said Mohammad Azaz.
He blamed influential for occupying canals and rivers politically. Branches and canals connected with Dakatia and Meghna rivers and other rivers in this region become useless. Rehmat Khali Canal of Noakhali is encroached on at various places. As a result, the water is not going down quickly.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar, dean of Faculty of Science at Stamford University; also said that the flooding was not merely a natural disaster but a result of intentional actions by India. He called on the international community to demand proper compensation from India. He also advocated for the removal of dams and barriers on all shared rivers. The environmentalist, however, said the flood is prolonged due to mismanagement and obstacles of water flow in various ways.
India opened Dambur Dam constructed on Gumti River in Tripura after 31 years due to heavy rains. It is the reason for the flooding in Bangladesh. Although heavy rainfall in India are a major factor for flooding in eastern part of the country, there are other factors behind the devastating flood. “Mismanagement and corruption over rivers and canals are responsible for the prolonged flood,” said Dr. M. Inamul Haque, former director general of WARPO.
In Noakhali, at least our unions of Chatkhil upazila, two unions of Sonaimuri upazila and five unions of Senbagh upazila along with Begumganj, Companiganj upazila are still waterlogged.
Some people said that unplanned road construction and encroachment of rivers and canals are the main reasons for the prolonged flood. Besides, the unplanned construction of bridges, culverts, garbage bins, various structures and houses over the canal are also responsible.
M. Zakir Hossain Khan, chief executive of Change Initiative; told the Bangladesh Post that floodwater recedes quickly in Sylhet region due to haor and beel. But the water in Noakhali region is receding very slowly as various sluice gates, culverts, dams have been constructed in unplanned way.
He also blamed the All Weather Road in Kishoreganj for prolonging the flood. The intensity of flooding has increased due to the road. Water is not flowing through the haor. As a result flood water is not coming down.
Some people said that there are installations in all the canals, which are being occupied. Political leaders have encroached the canals with fish projects. The Water Development Board (WDB) is not taking action in this regard.
Religious adviser to interim government Dr. AFM Khalid Hossain during his visit to Noakhali on September 4 said that the flooding in Noakhali is not mainly flood, it is water logging. A group of people have taken over the water drainage channels and made fish enclosures there. This waterlogging is caused by the accumulation of rainwater, not flood water.
“There are many canals in Noakhali. We have already demolished various structures adjacent to the canals. Waste from various markets foes into the canal and turns into a pile of garbage. If anyone complains with the location, we will take action,” said Munshi Amir Faisal, executive engineer of Noakhali WDB.
In Lakshmipur, many low-lying areas at Kamalnagar, Raipur, Ramgati, Chandraganj and Sadar upazilas are still under floodwater. There are about 2500 illegal dams and embankments on hundreds of small and big canals of the district. Floodwater is obstructed due to the dams and embankments. Now it has become necessary to remove these dams.
According to WDB, there are about 110 canals in Lakshmipur. These canals join the Meghna River and other rivers. However, the canals have narrowed due to encroachment. The pollution of many canals has also accelerated due to the dumping of waste in the district and upazila towns.
Nahid-Uz Zaman Khan, executive engineer of Lakshmipur WDB; said that the canals and rivers have been narrowed down. Due to this, the water is being preventedIn this situation, it is necessary to dig the canal and free it from encroachment.
In Cumilla, 11 unions of Manoharganj upazila of the district and 13 unions of Chauddagram upazila still have water. Besides, there have been reports of water accumulation in various unions of Brahmanpara and Burichang upazilas. Even though the water has been drained in some places, the roads are still not passable. Most of the branch canals along with Gomti and Meghna in Comilla are occupied. The influential have built dams and embankments on different canals. As a result, water drainage is obstructed.
About the solution, Mohammad Azaz said, “The dry season is coming. We now have to find out where the canal water, the river water is obstructed. Now to do the mapping. These obstacles should be identified and removed. The local people must be consulted. Then we will reap the benefits in the next flood. Our local government does not take much advice from water experts and environmentalists. As a result, we are not benefiting from development.”
