Mazurul Ahsan Khan President CPB has recently visited South Bengal to distribute relief materials and to see for himself the situation in areas affected by cyclone ‘Aila’. He visited Khulna,Bagerhat,Pirojpur,Boithaghata, Jelekhali, Kamarkhola, Gunari, Dakope, Kalinagar, Paikgacha, Koira, Kalra, Mongla, Mothbaria,and Kochubaria from 11th to 15th June. Accompanied by Presidium Member Muniruzzaman, CC. members Ruhin Hossain Prince and S.A,Rashid,President Bangladesh Students Union, Nure Alam Vice Chairman Mongla Upozilla, Nitai Gain V,Ch, Batiaghata, Krishnapada Mondol V.Ch. Paikgacha and other leaders and distributed relief material to the distressed.He also attended several meetings of public representatives, relief workers and cross section of people to know about the situation in the devastated areas and priorities for required remedial measures and preventive actions .
Recalling his experience in 2008, during his visit to cyclone ‘Cider’ affected areas he said in certain areas the effects of Aila was more disastrous. Many barrages were washed away at several points and saline water flooding destroyed crops and sources of fresh water, and water receded slowly or not at all, he said during press briefings. While visiting remote areas by microbus, boats, trollers, motorcycle and by foot he found scarcity of drinking water was very acute The Government, Navy, only few NGO’s, and CPB arranged for transporting drinking water to some remote areas but it was insufficient. While traveling by boat Manzur saw hundreds of people women and children waiting with water containers at different points of river bank and were crying for water. People working for disaster management were unable to reach remote areas and did not have enough training, and facilities and could not realise the urgent requirements of the distressed. In Mongla port area it was for the first time the township was under saline water. As a result ponds which preserve and supply sweet water for drinking were polluted due to flooding saline and dirty water.. People in Mongla depend on rain water preserved in big containers and pots and sweet water ponds for drinking throughout the years. Manzur briefed press men at different places during his whirlwind tour and said that the government should draw a master plan for barrages in the whole region, taking native knowledge of local people into consideration, avoid harmful barrages and reconstruct barrages necessary which should be wider higher and stronger. Millions of people can be employed for construction of such barrages. Manzur said it is a pity that despite experience of the past the government has failed to do much to ensure supply of safe drinking water to people in south Bengal particularly in coastal areas, which is scarce even during normal times. Emergency measures should be taken to provide safe drinking water during normal time prepare authorities of disaster management to ensure supply of sufficient safe drinking water during cyclones and floods..
Manzur expressed surprise at the failure of the government, most NGO’s, political parties and mass media to give due importance to ‘Aila’ devastation. He said a silent climate migration is taking place in the coastal areas of South Bengal. Local people reported that only from Dakope Upozila 50,000 people have migrated to Khulna city. It is also due to environmental migration besides normal urbanization. CPB President commented that while talking to people during Cider in 2007, he could see peoples will to stay back and rebuild life, but after Aila many people were loosing hope and thinking of migration. He said climate change is having catastrophic effect in Bangladesh and due compensations should realized from rich countries responsible for this. Absolute transparency must be ensured and the money should be properly spent in effected areas. He called for a world wide movement for mitigation not only adaptation due to climate change. He also demanded the recognition of right of effected people to migrate to safe places in the countries responsible for climate change.
CPB president visited village Kachubaria in Shapleja Union of Mothbaria Upozilla, Dist. Pirojpur. CPB constructed Pond Sand Filter in this remote village Kachubaria during last ‘Cider’ which is the only source of safe drinking water for hundreds of inhabitants in the area. He also visited Progoti Primary School at the same place which was also established after the Cider. He distributed books and pencils for 300 students of the school. CPB with the financial support of “Hide Bangladesh Welfare Association” started construction of a Cyclone Center at this place after the cyclone Cider. The construction is going on in full swing despite remoteness of the area and bad communication. Though financial and other constraints are quite high, Manzur expressed hope that the construction will be completed soon.
At the last leg of the tour three members of the relief team including CPB President were hospitalized due to severe diarrhea coupled with electrolytic imbalance. Comrade S A Rashid CC. member and General Secretary of Khulna District Committee of the Party and comrade Hazrat Ali narrowly escaped death. Lack of safe drinking water, food, long and arduous journey, extreme weather was some of the causes. All the three comrades had to be admitted in the local hospital and were released after two days.
Recalling his experience in 2008, during his visit to cyclone ‘Cider’ affected areas he said in certain areas the effects of Aila was more disastrous. Many barrages were washed away at several points and saline water flooding destroyed crops and sources of fresh water, and water receded slowly or not at all, he said during press briefings. While visiting remote areas by microbus, boats, trollers, motorcycle and by foot he found scarcity of drinking water was very acute The Government, Navy, only few NGO’s, and CPB arranged for transporting drinking water to some remote areas but it was insufficient. While traveling by boat Manzur saw hundreds of people women and children waiting with water containers at different points of river bank and were crying for water. People working for disaster management were unable to reach remote areas and did not have enough training, and facilities and could not realise the urgent requirements of the distressed. In Mongla port area it was for the first time the township was under saline water. As a result ponds which preserve and supply sweet water for drinking were polluted due to flooding saline and dirty water.. People in Mongla depend on rain water preserved in big containers and pots and sweet water ponds for drinking throughout the years. Manzur briefed press men at different places during his whirlwind tour and said that the government should draw a master plan for barrages in the whole region, taking native knowledge of local people into consideration, avoid harmful barrages and reconstruct barrages necessary which should be wider higher and stronger. Millions of people can be employed for construction of such barrages. Manzur said it is a pity that despite experience of the past the government has failed to do much to ensure supply of safe drinking water to people in south Bengal particularly in coastal areas, which is scarce even during normal times. Emergency measures should be taken to provide safe drinking water during normal time prepare authorities of disaster management to ensure supply of sufficient safe drinking water during cyclones and floods..
Manzur expressed surprise at the failure of the government, most NGO’s, political parties and mass media to give due importance to ‘Aila’ devastation. He said a silent climate migration is taking place in the coastal areas of South Bengal. Local people reported that only from Dakope Upozila 50,000 people have migrated to Khulna city. It is also due to environmental migration besides normal urbanization. CPB President commented that while talking to people during Cider in 2007, he could see peoples will to stay back and rebuild life, but after Aila many people were loosing hope and thinking of migration. He said climate change is having catastrophic effect in Bangladesh and due compensations should realized from rich countries responsible for this. Absolute transparency must be ensured and the money should be properly spent in effected areas. He called for a world wide movement for mitigation not only adaptation due to climate change. He also demanded the recognition of right of effected people to migrate to safe places in the countries responsible for climate change.
CPB president visited village Kachubaria in Shapleja Union of Mothbaria Upozilla, Dist. Pirojpur. CPB constructed Pond Sand Filter in this remote village Kachubaria during last ‘Cider’ which is the only source of safe drinking water for hundreds of inhabitants in the area. He also visited Progoti Primary School at the same place which was also established after the Cider. He distributed books and pencils for 300 students of the school. CPB with the financial support of “Hide Bangladesh Welfare Association” started construction of a Cyclone Center at this place after the cyclone Cider. The construction is going on in full swing despite remoteness of the area and bad communication. Though financial and other constraints are quite high, Manzur expressed hope that the construction will be completed soon.
At the last leg of the tour three members of the relief team including CPB President were hospitalized due to severe diarrhea coupled with electrolytic imbalance. Comrade S A Rashid CC. member and General Secretary of Khulna District Committee of the Party and comrade Hazrat Ali narrowly escaped death. Lack of safe drinking water, food, long and arduous journey, extreme weather was some of the causes. All the three comrades had to be admitted in the local hospital and were released after two days.
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