'When waters rise, our dreams drown': Feni cries out for sustainable future

As the monsoon set in, the people of Feni were once again devastated by flooding, a recurring tragedy that left behind deep and unhealed scars.

As the destruction recurs, one question continues to echo: will a sustainable embankment ever be built? Will the people of Feni ever be spared the horrors of recurring floods?

Faruk-e-Azam, Adviser to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, visited the flood-hit areas in Feni yesterday (12 July).

Local residents seized the opportunity to press their demand for durable embankments. In response, the adviser mentioned that a project worth Tk 7,340 crore has been proposed for embankment construction in Feni.

Rushing waters from upstream India broke through embankments in the Parshuram and Fulgazi areas, submerging low-lying villages in Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar upazilas.

As of Friday, embankments in 23 spots have collapsed, flooding 112 villages and affecting around 34,600 people.

Thousands in border-adjacent Fulgazi, Parshuram, Chhagalnaiya and parts of Feni Sadar are enduring significant hardship. Roads have gone under water, halting all vehicular movement.

Power cuts and lack of mobile network connectivity have further complicated the situation for flood-affected families.

As the floodwaters begin to recede, the extent of the damage is becoming clear. In Parshuram, about 50 homes have collapsed.

"Just a year after the last flood, we're submerged again," lamented elderly Razia Begum of Uttar Sripur in Fulgazi, as she stood waterlogged in her home.

She went on to say, "Everything is ruined. Floods in July and August have become a norm for this region. Sometimes I feel like being born here was a mistake."

Razia is not alone. Each year, residents of northern upazilas like Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya suffer the same fate.

This time, three consecutive days of heavy rainfall combined with upstream water from India have broken 23 embankment points along the Muhuri, Kahua and Silonia rivers. With water engulfing new areas every hour, life in these regions remains paralysed.

Ali Azam, a resident of Uttar Sripur in Fulgazi, described the ferocity of the current, saying, "Water is pouring through the breached embankments with strong currents. New areas are flooding by the hour. Just like last year, we are again struggling with power outages and mobile network failures. Regardless of which political party is in power, our fate never seems to change."

Pushpita Rani from Gainbari said, "Our house is submerged. We're suffering terribly, especially with children and the elderly. There's a serious shortage of dry food and clean water. Every year, the embankments break because some officials from the Water Development Board do only the bare minimum. A permanent, sustainable embankment is the only solution to our plight."

Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas are among the hardest hit, with more than 80% of the population severely affected.

About 50% of the houses in these areas have been damaged. Moreover, sanitation systems and access to clean drinking water have collapsed.

As floodwaters slowly recede, the scars of destruction are becoming more apparent. For farmers, this means submerged fields and ruined crops. In many places, transplanted Aman paddy has rotted, and some fields have been buried under sand. Thousands of farmers are now facing a grim future.

"During the flood, we had to stay on the roof with our family. There was no clean water or food. The toilet was underwater, and we had no privacy, especially for women," shared Hosne Ara, 40, from flood-affected Fulgazi.

"At night, we used sarees as makeshift privacy screens to relieve ourselves. This flood has taken everything from us," she added.

Abdul Ali, 52, from Parshuram, who lost his home, said, "Now, every time it rains, I feel panic. Even light rain makes us worry that the embankment will collapse again. I hoped this year would be better, but it wasn't. I've never seen floodwaters like this before."

The most recent flooding, which began on 8 July, affected large parts of four upazilas in Feni. Thousands of people have lost their homes and farmland. Damage to infrastructure, homes, agriculture and fisheries has been extensive.

Livelihoods have been shattered, and the loss of livestock has plunged communities further into uncertainty.

There is an urgent need for clean drinking water, cash assistance, food supplies, and health and hygiene materials for flood survivors. In the medium term, housing repairs, restoration of sanitation and water systems, and agricultural input support will be essential. Long-term plans must include rehabilitation and income-generating initiatives for the affected population.

Since the beginning of the flood, the district administration has been conducting emergency relief operations in flood-affected areas.

Efforts include distributing clean drinking water, dry food and oral rehydration salts. Given the scale of the damage, immediate and long-term support must be significantly expanded to meet the critical needs of the population.

Every time a flood strikes, relief arrives—temporarily. But dreams are drowned, livelihoods are lost, and stability remains a distant hope. Only sustainable embankments can break this cycle of despair.