In the middle of nowhere

From a distance, it seems like Shantipur is floating on water.

The village, in the middle of two haors -- Angaruli on the west and Korochar on the east, falls under Bishwambarpur upazila of Sunamganj.

Not only during the rainy seasons, boats are more or less the only mode of transportation there, since there is water everywhere.

The village, comprising around 60-70 families, is not like every other village. It is detached from the rest of the country. There is no sign of development. They do not have a proper road network, school for children, or hospital.

When this correspondent visited the village he found most of the villagers had a blank stare with eyes as murky as the water surrounding their flimsy tin houses and broken bamboo fences, set up for protection themselves from waves. Even though Eid is just a few days away, the celebration does not promise to bring any hope or change in their lives.

“We are constantly passing our days in fear of tidal water,” said Joynal Mia, an elderly resident. He said most of the villagers are labourers during the dry season and at other times they survive by catching fish.

“Every year we put up bamboo fences to save our houses. But building a proper fencing costs a lot of money, which we do not have,” said villager Jamaluddin.

“There is also no school for our children. They have to go to the neighbouring villages by boat. But during high tides, we cannot send them to school,” said his wife Mafia Begum.

When this correspondent asked the villagers how they are planning to spend their Eid, they all gave a mirthless smile. 

"My concern is to repair my house first. How can I think of Eid?" said Shanur Mia, 53.

“Eid for us is just another day full of struggle…,” said Nargis Begum, while showing her bamboo fence. The worried mother said the flimsy fence would not be able to protect her house from another wave.

“During the rainy seasons, we mostly survive by catching fish. But I cannot even catch fish in front of my house anymore,” said Akkel Mia, 38, while pointing towards the water body around 100 yards from his house. He said it has been leased out for fish farming.

“Once there used to be huge hijal and karach trees in the haor areas, which offered protection against the waves. Due to unabated felling of those by some unscrupulous people, now the last defence of the haor people is gone,” said Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bapa, Sylhet chapter.

Villager Abdul Alim said they badly need a permanent embankment on the east side of the haor and sought the government's intervention. He said the embankment will not only save them from tidal waves, but also facilitate better access to education and  healthcare. The rest of the villagers echoed this.

 Contacted, Dipok Kumar Das, deputy-divisional engineer of Water Development Board (WDB), Sunamganj, said, “We have already submitted a proposal for an embankment to the main office.”

“We know the people of Shantipur are suffering. We need WBD's support regarding the construction of an embankment,” said Enamul Kabir Emon, district administrator, Sunamganj.