Amphan-hit Satkhira, Khulna struggles on Eid day
Local people from cyclone-hit upazilas are repairing damaged embankments in a race against time to prevent further flooding
As the country's Muslims celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr, the people of Satkhira and Khulna are struggling to save themselves from the river water, which inundated most of the region after cyclone Amphan damaged several embankments.
At least 100 people of Gabura union under Shyamnagar upazila repaired the embankment from early morning to 11am. They also performed Eid prayers on the riverbank.
Abdullah Al Mamun, a resident of the union, told The Business Standard, "The cyclone Amphan damaged the embankment in many areas. As a result, many families cannot live in their homes due to flooding caused by high tides.
"We have decided that we will repair the embankment before the surge of the tide. But we managed to complete around 80 percent of the work. We will do the remaining work tomorrow."
Meanwhile, the people of Koyra upazila in Khulna are also repairing the embankment to prevent the tide water from rushing in. They performed the Eid prayer at 11am.
Former chairman of the Koyra upazila AKM Tamizuddin led the Eid prayer, while incumbent chairman Shafiqul Islam and hundreds of people participated.
Shafiqul Islam said, "The cyclone Amphan devastated the area. The villagers are willingly repairing the embankment. They will finish the work tomorrow."
He also urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to save the upazila by building a sustainable embankment.
Gafur Sheikh, a resident of Koyra sadar union, said the local administration did not take any initiative to build and repair the embankment.
"We cannot wait for tide water to come. That is why we are in the field and performed the Eid prayer here," he said.