Six days of continuous heavy rains have caused severe waterlogging in Monpura, an isolated island upazila of Bhola. Homesteads, roads and low-lying areas have been submerged in water, leaving about 15,000 people in at least 10 villages of the upazila waterlogged. The prolonged waterlogging is severely disrupting the normal life of the area.

Cooking has stopped due to 3 to 4 feet of water in many houses. At the same time, there has been an acute shortage of clean water. In this situation, top leaders of the local Jubo Dal have visited the affected areas.

On Saturday, Monpura Upazila Jubo Dal convener Md. Shamsuddin Ahmed Mollah and member secretary Md. Hafiz Abdur Rahim visited various areas affected by the waterlogging. They went door to door to inquire about the waterlogged people and witnessed their suffering.

After the inspection, the Jubo Dal leaders said that they had detailed discussions with the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) and Bhola-4 MP Nurul Islam Nayan to take necessary measures to resolve the waterlogging.

Monpura Upazila Jubo Dal convener Md. Shamsuddin Ahmed Mollah said, “We have spoken to the UNO and requested him to take effective steps to quickly drain the water. Roads should be cut and large pipes should be installed in various places in Monpura where water is stagnant, so that the water can drain quickly.”

He further added, “The old canal that was in the Monpura Upazila premises needs to be re-excavated quickly. We had discussions with Bhola-4 MP Nurul Islam Nayan in this regard. He assured to look into the matter seriously. If these initiatives are implemented quickly, waterlogging will reduce and the suffering of the people will be alleviated to a great extent.”

Upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Md. Hafiz Abdur Rahim said, “It is our moral responsibility to stand by the people affected by the disaster. We are trying to coordinate with the administration to quickly resolve the problem and ensure the necessary cooperation of the people.”

The affected residents of the area said that they are living an extremely inhumane life due to waterlogging. To bring the situation under control, the affected families and locals have sought urgent intervention from the concerned authorities to provide adequate government relief and safe clean water, including rapid water drainage, re-excavation of old canals, installation of large pipes at necessary places.