The government project with 14 barracks was set up in 2001 at a cost of Tk 50 lakh at Baliakandi village, 14 kilometres from the Harirampur upazila headquarters.

A team of journalists from Manikgannj recently visited the project and talked to the people. They said each family was supposed to be provided with one acre of agriland in the area and a pair of bullocks.

But they did not get the land deeds in last three years, let alone the pair of bullocks. Kanchanpur union land office realised Tk 100 from each of them about a year ago promising handover of land deeds, but to no effect, they alleged.

In the last two years, about 60 houses of the project have been eroded by the Padma river. Roofs of another 15 houses, blown away by a cyclone last year, are yet to be rebuilt.

Many families affected by the river erosion and storm have left the shelter as they did not have the ability to repair those. Some others will leave after the current wet season, they said.

There is also no school for children. The lone school about a mile away, tore down by storm last year, is yet to be repaired.

There is no health centre nearby. It is ten miles' walk to the Manikganj upazila health complex.

They said now they are not as much worried about schooling for children and health as about river erosion. They may become homeless again, many of them feared.

Kanchanpur Union Parisad Chairman Mosharaf Hossain Musa, when contacted, said he informed officials concerned about the situation on several occasions and also submitted an estimate for proper rehabilitation of the inmates but there has not been any response.