Raging flood
Mahfuzul Haque, Eng Dept, DU
On July 27, 2004 I read in The Daily Star that the death toll due to floods was 329 and in the evening BBC Bengali Service said the number had increased up to about 394. Now it is easily conceivable how fiercely the flood was raging on. The water was flowing over the danger level in all the rivers. Two-thirds of the country are inundated, almost three crore people are affected. The people are homeless, marooned. As shown in a newspaper, a woman was shifting her mud-oven onto the roof, the roof of a corrugated tin made house, cattle and human beings are living together; mother is bathing her child in the poisonous water( I wonder whether they drink the same water), a child is crying in waist-deep water; a woman is holding her beloved pet tightly to her bosom( perhaps the only companion of her life). Diarrhoea is spreading fast, which, the doctors say, is supposed to come after the flood. Life is under water. Life is insecure. Life is no life.However, support and help are assured. Everyone is trying. Money is being subscribed. Food is being given. The schools and the colleges are giving shelter. The government is looking confident of its strength without any foreign help. Still the UK has come up with Tk 110 crore, The UN is suggesting help in many ways. But we must make it sure that the aid reaches the right person, we have to make it clear that the cruel people do not cash in on the misery of the affected. You will see lots of banners around the city like "Help the Flood Affected". Be sure about them because this country is home to different sorts of people.
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