BangladeshDocumentary

The Hungry Rivers

The Hungry Rivers
  Bangladesh
A roadside house near Gaibandha Sadar is inundated due to over flown of water from Ghagor River. Date: 24 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh

Floods are one of the recurring climatic phenomenon in Bangladesh and often have been within bearable limits. However, infrequently they become devastating. Each year in Bangladesh about 26,000 sq km which is 18% of the country is flooded. During astringent floods, the affected area may exceed 55% of the total area of the country. In an average year, 844,000 million cubic meters of water flows into the country during the sultry period (May to October) through the three main rivers the Ganges, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Meghna. This volume is 95% of the total annual inflow of upstream water. By comparison, only about 187,000 million cubic meters of streamflow are engendered by rainfall in the country during the same period.

In Bangladesh, the definition of flood appears differently. During the pluvial season when the water flow exceeds the holding capacity of rivers, canals, beels, hoars, low-lying areas and banks are overstepped, water spreads over the floodplain and it inundates the area causing damage to crops, vegetation, homesteads, roads and other properties.

A 65 years old woman from Uzaldanga Char, Gaibandha is standing alone infront of her house, which has been washed away by devastating floodwater. Date: 25 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh

Immensely weighty monsoon rainfall throughout the country and onrush water from upstream have caused a massive flood in low-lying areas of the Northern, North-eastern and Southeastern districts of Bangladesh this year.

The overall flood situation in the northern districts have deteriorated as the water levels of all major rivers marked elevate inundating fresh areas, marooning thousands of people and disrupting road communications in four northern districts namely Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Gaibandha.

A 40 years old man from Uzaldanga Char, Gaibandha is standing in front of his half-inundated house by floodwater. Date: 25 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh

According to information of the District Mitigation and Rehabilitation Officers (DRRO), around 1.25 lakh families of 106 Accumulations in 20 Upazilas of the mentioned districts have been affected. The houses, tube-wells, latrines, roads in the affected areas went under the floodwater. People were withal suffering from acute crisis of food and drinkable water.

The floodwater washed away many houses, livestock and crops in many areas. Maximum schools and colleges went under water and shut down due to flood. Rest of the institutions were used as flood shelters for flood victims.

Due to completely breakdown of a bridge in Ketkirhat, Gaibandha, a farmer is waiting with his cattle to cross the river for safe place. Date: 24 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh

People who were living close to the main roads took shelter on the street with their valuable goods and in some cases whatever they could able to take with them instantly. Beside food crisis for human, owners of cattle’s also suffered a lot for food for their cattle. On the other side, people who are living in Chars suffered most due to quick inundation of their houses and firms. Almost every year they suffered from this inundation.

Though flood brings poly soil which makes our land more fertile, helps to yield more crops but still people are suffering and not pleased with their uncertain life condition due to this sudden hungry behave of rivers.

A 75 years old woman who lost one of her family member during this shattering flood is living on the street of Konchipara, Gaibandha with her other family members and cattle. Date: 24 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh
The major occupation of the people is agriculture and cattle grazing which is strongly affected by flood. Located Char Uzaldanga, Gaibandha, which is a cattle grazing hotspot. Date: 25 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh
Only a handful of families dare to stay along the Char Uzaldanga,Gaibandha haunted by experiences of nature’s anger. Date: 25 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh
Part of Char Uzaldanga looks like a tiny line on the top of the river when seen by the people of this char. Date: 25 July, 2019 Location: Gaibandha, Bangladesh
Support PRIVATE Photo Review Support us today →

Mohammad Nazmul Hassan Bhuiyan

From his school life, Nazmul Shanji loves to take photos of nature and people around him, but fairly it was not his infatuation. Photography… More »

Leave your opinion:

Back to top button
×
Close

Adblock Detected

We use advertisements to keep our website online.

Please whitelist our website in your adblocking plugin