Staff Reporter :
Farmers affected by the recent floods are facing severe hardships, with over 17 lakh cattle and poultry at risk due to a critical shortage of fodder caused by supply chain disruptions.
While 20 lakh people have been impacted across 18 districts, many have alleged insufficient relief materials.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, Mohibbur Rahman, refuted these claims, asserting that there is no relief crisis. “If there is a problem in getting relief materials due to the administration’s inability to reach flood-affected areas, we will address it as soon as we become aware,” he stated during a press briefing at the secretariat on Sunday.
He also assured that if flood-affected people are suffering from a lack of food in remote areas, the administration will deliver food upon receiving a call on the emergency number 333.
Amid the ongoing crisis in flood-affected districts, approximately 833,000 cattle are facing a severe fodder shortage. Dr. Md. Shahinur Alam, Director (Extension) of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), provided an update on the situation.
He reported, “As of Saturday, we have received information from 15 flood-affected districts. The data indicates that approximately 513,000 cows, 25,101 buffaloes, 191,000 goats, 104,000 lambs, 969,000 chickens, and 769,000 ducks have been impacted.”
In response to the crisis, the DLS has formed emergency medical teams in coordination with district and upazila administrations.
These teams are actively providing vaccines and other essential medical services to animals in the affected areas.
However, Dr. Alam highlighted a significant challenge: “We have no financial code to provide fodder to animals. Nonetheless, special measures are being taken to supply fodder with the assistance of local administrations.” This statement was made to The New Nation on Sunday, addressing the ongoing fodder crisis.
However, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman has said that floods spread in three more districts. A total of 18 districts have so far been flooded in the country.
“According to the information received so far, the number of affected people is 20 lakh in 18 districts. About 3,000 shelters have been opened for the flood-affected people and about 40,000 people took refuge in these centres. Some 619 medical teams have been formed to treat the flood victims,” the State Minister said.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management, the flood affected districts are Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Rangpur, Feni, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Sherpur, Bandarban, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat, Sirajganj, Bogura and Tangail.
Flood situation is prevailing in different parts of the country due to water coming down from upstream for heavy rainfall, he added.
Mohibbur Rahman said, “We are working to supply relief materials to the flood-affected areas as per the needs and demands of the people. So far, 21,700 tonnes of rice, cash Tk 5.47 crore, 65,500 packets of dry and other food, Tk 40 lakh for cow fodder and Tk 40 lakh for baby food have been allocated in 18 flood affected districts to provide the necessary assistance to the victims.”
He, however, said that the amount of allocation will be increased considering the needs and requirements of the flood affected people.
“We want to ensure enough relief materials in 64 districts, so that district administrations could use it in case of emergency. We have also given additional allocation in each district beyond the announced allocation,” Mohibur Rahman said.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) Sunday bulletin, the Brahmaputra river is in falling trend while the Jamuna river is in steady state. Both the river may fall slowly in the next 72 hours.
“The Ganges-Padma rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours. All the rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in overall falling trend, which may continue in the next 72 hours,” Sarder Udoy Raihan, Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) told this correspondent.
According to the information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall is expected in the Northern region and adjoining upstream parts of the country in the next 24 hours.
“In the next 24 hours, the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern region of the country may rise at times. As a result, the Teesta river may flow above danger level for short duration, while the flood situation at low-lying areas along the Dharla and Dudhkumar river in the Kurigram district may slightly deteriorate,” he said.
In the next 72 hours, flood situation at some low-lying places of Brahmaputra-Jamuna river along Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Tangail and Serajganj districts may improve, the FFWC report said.
In the next 24 hours, the water level of Jamunashwari, Karatoa, Bangali, Upper Karatoya, Purnabhava, Tangon, Ichamati-Jamuna, Atrai, Mahananda and Little Jamuna rivers in the northern and northwestern parts of the country may rise at times.
In next 24 hours, the Atrai river at Baghabari point may increase and the Ghaghot river at Gaibandha point may fall. As a result, the flood situation at Sirajgonj district along the low-lying areas of river Atrai may deteriorate slightly and the flood situation at Gaibandha district along the low-lying areas of river Ghagot may improve.
In next 48 hours, the Padma river at Goalundo point may flow close to its warning level, while in the next 72 hours, the flood situation in the low-lying areas of North-eastern region may improve.