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(Afghanistan
and Myanmar in the
map are not members
of SAARC)
|
Facing
the flashflood
Low-lying
areas of several districts of the country have been inundated by
flashflood amid heavy rain and onrush of waters from across the border.
The northeastern districts of Netrakona, Sunamganj and Sylhet,
southeastern Feni, Noakhali and the southern greater district of Barisal
have been flooded. As heavy to very heavy rainfall continued over
northeast and southeastern parts of the country and adjoining Indian
state of Asam, Meghalaya and Tripura the water level in the rivers of
these areas is rising with the threat of further deterioration of the
situation. A number of rivers are now flowing over the danger level.
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As the past experience tells us this is just the beginning of a crisis
period, because following monsoon every year water starts rolling down
from the hilly regions of India to Bangladesh causing flashflood here.
The flood inundates vast areas, damages standing crops and properties
and renders huge people shelterless and plunges them into endless
miseries. In most of the flood-affected areas the marooned people are
forced to stay in makeshift shelters in educational institutions and on
highways and embankments under open sky without necessary food and
drinking water.
Fortunately, such critical condition has not yet been created but the
situation may take a turn for the worse if the rivers continue to swell
up and more and more areas continue to go under flood waters. It is
known to all that the adverse effect of flood does not remain confined
to the inundated areas alone, and rather the entire population bears the
brunt of the flood as disruption to communications impedes smooth
transportation of goods and causes price hike while crop loss hits the
economy. It is already apprehended that crops including vegetables and
transplanted paddy as well as seedlings are destined to be damaged in
the flooded areas. Fish from hundreds of ponds are likely to be washed
away inflicting heavy loss to the fish farmers.
The most alarming aspect of the flood related crisis is that the
affected people always face shortage of food, drinking water and
medicines. So the immediate task to be accomplished by the government is
urgent preparedness to tackle the flood havoc. The disaster management
ministry should immediately go into action in the affected areas and
take such measures as may be necessary to avert any possible disaster.
If the ministry is well-prepared it will be easier to minimise the
onslaught of the flood.
With a view to redressing the sufferings of the flood victims advance
preparations have to be made for rescue and relief operations.
Preparations have to be taken even for facing the possible aftermath of
the flood. Steps should be taken to open sufficient number of shelters
for the flood victims and arrange relief materials for the destitute.
Supply of food, drinking water and medicines for the needy has to be
ensured.
[Editorial
in The
Bangladesh Today]
Bangladesh
Police denies media reports about the arrest of ULFA chief Paresh Baruah: Some
media reports have stated that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)
‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah was arrested from an apartment in
the Uttara area of Bangladesh capital Dhaka on June 14, 2009. One report
said that Baruah was picked up carrying a passport that had his photograph
but gave his name as Shamsul Hussain. Five other persons - Pradip Brahma,
Partha Chetia, Kantilal Chakma, Shyam Dev Barman and Prashant Pahari -
were also arrested along with Baruah. However, on the same day, Bangladesh
authorities rejected these reports as "rubbish".Telegraph
India; Times
of India, June 15, 2009
