No cyclone shelter or embankment in 8 remote Rangabali chars

Rangabali upazila consists of isolated areas in the district. Here remote islands are surrounded by four rivers and the sea.

Most of the chars of this upazila have not any flood control embankment. As a result, thousands of people of eight chars of this upazila are exposed to the whims of nature.

'Charakkam' is a remote char of Rangabali. More than 800 people live in this grassland. Its rounded by the north side of the Buragaurango river and the south of the Bay of Bengal on the south. The char is located in the South-East portion of Rangabali sadar union.  Hawa Begum, a resident of the char, said: "We can only pray during a storm. We always live in the fear of a flood."

The same situation prevails at Kalagachia Char, Charkankuni, Charmarshan, Charanjir, Chartozammel, Kawkhali Char and Charlata in the upazila. No cyclone shelter could be found in these areas. So, about 5,000 people living in these eight chars remain vulnerable to natural disasters.

Locals said most of the eight chars remian submerged iduring high tides. Rahim Mia, a resident of Kawkhali Char, said: "This char is surrounded with rivers. There is no place to go if the water  rises. There is no cyclone shelter. There is no chance of survival in case of a big storm and flood." Rangbali upazila project implementation officer Tapan Kumar Ghosh said: "We can't provide cyclone shelters because there are no public or private educational institutions in those areas. If there is an educational institution, we will send a quick proposal for the cyclone shelter."

Upazila education officer (Acting) Golam Sagir said: "Proposals for educational instituions in these chars have already been sent to the authorities."

Rangabali upazila parishad chairman Delwar Hossain said: "Many of the chars have no embankment. We have informed the authorities concerned about this."

 

No cyclone shelter or embankment in 8 remote Rangabali chars

Rangabali upazila consists of isolated areas in the district. Here remote islands are surrounded by four rivers and the sea. Most of the chars of this upazila have not any flood control embankment. As a result, thousands of people of eight chars of this upazila are exposed to the whims of nature. Charakkam is a remote char of Rangabali. More than 800 people live in this grassland. Its rounded by the north side of the Buragaurango river and the south of the Bay of Bengal on the south. The char is located in the South-East portion of Rangabali sadar union. Hawa Begum, a resident of the char, said: We can only pray during a storm. We always live in the fear of a flood. The same situation prevails at Kalagachia Char, Charkankuni, Charmarshan, Charanjir, Chartozammel, Kawkhali Char and Charlata in the upazila. No cyclone shelter could be found in these areas. So, about 5,000 people living in these eight chars remain vulnerable to natural disasters. Locals said most of the eight chars remian submerged iduring high tides. Rahim Mia, a resident of Kawkhali Char, said: This char is surrounded with rivers. There is no place to go if the water rises. There is no cyclone shelter. There is no chance of survival in case of a big storm and flood. Rangbali upazila project implementation officer Tapan Kumar Ghosh said: We cant provide cyclone shelters because there are no public or private educational institutions in those areas. If there is an educational institution, we will send a quick proposal for the cyclone shelter. Upazila education officer (Acting) Golam Sagir said: Proposals for educational instituions in these chars have already been sent to the authorities. Rangabali upazila parishad chairman Delwar Hossain said: Many of the chars have no embankment. We have informed the authorities concerned about this.