Lakshmipur's Raipur district is facing a dire situation as 45 families residing in the Swapnakuti shelter project are trapped in floodwaters. The rising tide of the Meghna River is causing water to splash into their residences, posing a severe threat to their safety and well-being. The monsoon season has exacerbated the problem, with water accumulating in the covered cisterns of the sewage, causing toilets to float out.
A recent visit to the ground on Friday afternoon revealed the harrowing condition of the 45 families living in Swapnakuti Asharyan of Mier Hat, No. 8 South Charbanshi Union in Raipur Upazila. The locals informed the Daily Messenger that the main issue is the low-lying nature of the houses, making it easy for water to enter during high tide. They emphasized that this problem could have been avoided if the ground level had been raised, expressing their immense distress as the shelter has become almost unusable within just two years.
Hosne Ara Begum, a resident of house number 8 in the shelter, shared her ordeal, stating, "With even a little rain, our house gets inundated, and even snakes have entered our homes. We live in constant fear of snake bites and have been enduring these difficulties for the past two years, with no one inquiring about our plight even for a single day."
Young Irene Akhter, a fourth-grade student at Kadam Ali Government Primary School, expressed her hardship, saying, "We are facing a lot of trouble; I can't even attend school, and getting clean drinking water from the tap has become impossible. Food water and toilet water have all mixed up."
Maran Ali Howladar, the president of Swapnakuti Asharyan, revealed the extent of the crisis, saying, "Around 200 people from 45 families are currently living in this shelter, and we are facing tremendous difficulties. Despite repeatedly bringing these problems to the attention of the chairman and UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer), we have not received any solutions. Even during a training session held in the upazila about a month ago, I highlighted these issues, but no action has been taken."
In response to the urgent situation, Raipur Upazila Executive Officer, Anjan Dash, explained that these houses were constructed during the tenure of the former UNO. He assured that efforts are underway to quickly drain the floodwater, and necessary measures are being taken to address the concerns raised by the affected families.
The trapped families of Swapnakuti shelter project urgently require immediate assistance and support to ensure their safety and well-being during this challenging time. Authorities must take prompt action to alleviate their plight and prevent further distress.
