As monsoon rains lashed Feni, devastating floods returned once again—submerging homes, collapsing embankments, and uprooting lives. Residents, left reeling from destruction, are pleading for a permanent solution: sustainable embankments to end the cycle of recurring disaster.
On Saturday, Faruk-e-Azam, Adviser to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, visited the flood-hit areas of Feni. Local residents seized the opportunity to press their long-standing demand for durable flood protection. In response, the adviser stated that a Tk 7,340 crore project has been proposed for embankment construction in the district.
This year’s flooding was triggered by three consecutive days of heavy rain and surging water from upstream India. Rushing floodwaters broke through embankments in Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas, inundating large portions of Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar. As of Friday, embankments have collapsed in at least 23 spots, flooding 112 villages and affecting approximately 34,600 people.
The worst-affected areas—Fulgazi, Parshuram, Chhagalnaiya and parts of Feni Sadar—have been cut off by submerged roads. Power outages and mobile network disruptions have left thousands without communication or support.
As waters begin to recede, the scale of destruction is becoming clearer. In Parshuram alone, about 50 homes have collapsed. Razia Begum, an elderly resident of Uttar Sripur in Fulgazi, stood waterlogged in her home and lamented, “Just a year after the last flood, we’re submerged again. Everything is ruined. Sometimes I feel like being born here was a mistake.”
Each year, monsoon floods batter the same northern upazilas. This time, the Muhuri, Kahua and Silonia rivers breached 23 embankment points, flooding new areas by the hour.
Ali Azam of Uttar Sripur described the current: “Water is pouring through the breaches with force. We’re facing the same struggle as last year—no power, no mobile network. No matter who is in power, nothing ever changes for us.”
Pushpita Rani from Gainbari said, “Our house is submerged. We’re suffering terribly, especially the children and elderly. Every year, these embankments break because some officials from the Water Development Board do only the bare minimum. A permanent, sustainable embankment is the only solution.”
Fulgazi and Parshuram are among the hardest-hit regions, with over 80 percent of residents severely affected. About half the homes have been damaged. Sanitation systems have collapsed, and clean drinking water remains scarce.
Farmers face a grim reality. Floodwaters have submerged fields and destroyed crops. Transplanted Aman paddy has rotted. In some places, sand has blanketed the soil, rendering land unusable. Livestock losses have deepened the crisis.
Hosne Ara, 40, from Fulgazi, described her ordeal: “During the flood, we had to stay on the roof. The toilet was underwater. At night, we used sarees for privacy. This flood has taken everything.”
Abdul Ali, 52, from Parshuram, lost his home. “Now, even light rain fills me with panic. I hoped this year would be better. But it wasn’t. I’ve never seen floodwaters like this before,” he said.
The flood, which began on 8 July, has caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, agriculture, and fisheries. Emergency relief efforts are ongoing, with the district administration distributing dry food, drinking water, and oral rehydration salts. However, the need far outweighs the supply.
Immediate relief—food, cash assistance, clean water, and healthcare—is essential. Medium-term needs include repairing homes, restoring sanitation systems, and supporting farmers. In the long term, rehabilitation and income-generating projects must be prioritised.
Relief arrives with every flood. But so do loss, despair, and uncertainty. Only sustainable, durable embankments can end this cycle and offer the people of Feni a future they can rebuild with hope.