The flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj has reached alarming proportions due to torrential downpours and steep slopes. Due to heavy rains in Meghalaya-Assam of India, the third phase of the current flood season has occurred in the Sylhet region due to the water coming down from the upper reaches. Residents of the region are devastated by one flood after another. Millions of people in the two districts are under water. Many important installations have also been seriously flood heated. Twelve upazilas of Sylhet and Sunamganj have lost power due to power outage. Flights have been suspended at Sylhet Osmani International Airport due to water intrusion. Road communication is also cut off in many areas. Flood hit people are rushing to higher ground, schools or shelters in search of safe haven. There is no work in the hands of many, there is no food in the house, there is also a crisis of pure water - in a word, flood hit people are spending their days in dire straits. The government has already deployed troops in Sylhet and Sunamganj to rescue flood victims but that is not sufficient  considering the prevailing flood hit people.

Due to steep slopes and torrential downpours, the water level in the rivers of the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Kushiyara, Surma and other basins has crossed dire zones and the flood situation has also deteriorated in other districts of North Bengal. The number of people affected by the floods is in the millions and these people are now in a state of waterlogging. They are fleeing their homes in search of safe haven and food. Pure water is a big challenge to survive in this crucial moments. Many have taken refuge in small boats with their families. Their plight life is going on there half-starved. There has been a crisis of food and clean water. Isolated road communication in many places. The government's relief needs are far from adequate.

In order to facilitate road communication between Itna, Mithamin and Ashtagram upazilas of Haor area of ​​Kishoreganj, a 29.73 km long road was constructed in 2016-2020 at a cost of Tk 874.08 crore, but the road has become a source of misery in that area. Thousands of hectares of crops are being submerged due to untimely floods. This road has been under much-debated and blamed issue since the untimely floods this time. Residents of the area are complaining that every year during the monsoon season, it is called the hill slope of India. Even if the slope came earlier, the water would go down quickly. But now the water is stuck for a few days. The rice rots in the water. Boro paddy, the only crop in Haoranchal, was submerged in untimely floods this year as well. The amount of damage is expected to exceed Taka one thousand crore. Local people, experts and the cabinet have discussed about this road in Kishoreganj which has become a cause of fear for Haor. The cabinet has asked the government to look into the impact of the floods in Haor. At the same time, it has been decided not to build any more roads in the haor area. One of the reasons for this is not conducting proper environmental survey before deciding to build a road. Environmental scientists and water resources experts say that proper environmental survey was not carried out before the construction of this road. Haor is characterized by free flow of water. According to them, if the road has to be constructed, then at least 30 percent of the 30 km road should be constructed in the form of high bridges or flyovers to allow free flow of water. Besides, another feature of this road is that it is a stand alone road, this road is not making any connection in a wide sense. The road has been under construction for only two years. In time, the environmental impact of this road will be more clearly felt in the event of a major flood.

Natural disasters make people face the harsh realities of life. Therefore, it is the duty of people of all classes and professions to stand by the side of helpless humanity in times of natural calamities like heavy rains, storms, floods etc. Every able-bodied person should stand by the flood hit people in times of danger. People at risk benefit greatly from aid money, relief supplies, food, clothing, medicine, food saline, clean water, or daily necessities. Those who sympathize with the helpless, the downtrodden, the needy, the poor and the destitute and help those who are deprived of basic rights like food, clothing, medical care, homelessness, are truly human beings.

The floods have damaged the homes, livelihoods and livelihoods of many poor families. Many roads, shops, dwellings, lands and crops have been wiped out. In this situation, it is easy to imagine the plight of the helpless flood affected people in the flood-hit areas. Various water borne diseases are spreading in different flood prone areas. They are not getting proper treatment due to lack of necessary medicines. Extreme levels of flood danger were announced in many parts of the country, with water pipes, deep tube wells and wells being severely damaged. Therefore, it is imperative to take immediate steps to provide relief, dry food, financial assistance and medical care to the flood hit people living in flood-prone areas.

While helpless people are living in waterlogged conditions due to the deteriorating flood situation in different parts of the country, it is the moral duty of the rich people of the society to stand beside the helpless people and help them. It's time to dump her and move on. The flood-affected people in the flood-hit areas are suffering from indescribable misery due to lack of food, clothing, shelter and medical treatment. Just as the night of sorrow does not want to end, so for the people of flood hit every single day is like an eternity of misery.

Civil society in the greater Sylhet region has demanded that Sylhet and Sunamganj be declared 'national disaster areas'. They say, "Government initiatives need to deliver relief goods quickly in Haor areas including Surma, Kushiyara, Manu rivers should be developed for disaster management. Suitable dams need to be constructed in the riverine areas. As we can see, the shelter project is very short. Adequate shelter projects need to be developed. Those who have lost their homes in the floods should be given government grants and their losses should be compensated. For this, the rich and well-to-do people of the country can freely help the families and relatives of the poor people affected by the floods."

So wherever you are, help the flood victims according to our ability. We can contact the local administration, development workers or volunteer teams for fundraising, assistance and distribution of funds for flood-affected people. So, without looking at the relief of the government, come forward to help the flood victims with the attitude of helping and cooperating as much as possible in the service of humanity! If everyone comes forward in unison, it will not be difficult to deal with natural disasters, no matter how big. Remember, the friend of danger is the real friend.

Writer: Banker and Columnist