Thousands offer Eid prayer in knee-deep water

Published at 12:26 pm May 25th, 2020

Koyra upazila, eid jamaat in knee deep water

Locals in Koyra upazila Khulna attend Eid congregation in knee-deep water on Monday, May 25, 2020 Dhaka Tribune

Locals alleged the flooding was severe as low quality work had been performed in constructing the embankments

Eid-ul-Fitr congregation was held in knee-deep water in Khulna's Koyra upazila as river water flooded the lands when severe cyclonic storm Amphan damaged the embankments.

With a wind speed of up to 180kph and over 10 feet tidal surges the cyclone destroyed embankment and flooded a vast area in the upazila, forcing thousands of people to offer Eid prayers standing in knee deep water.

Md Humayun Kabir, Koyra sadar Upazila Parishad (UP) chairman said, more than 3,000 people attended three separate Eid congregations in the upazila.

As over 80% of the upazila remained inundated even in stable weather conditions, locals tried to repair the embankment voluntarily but failed in the process, added the UP chairman.

On this very day in 2009, cyclone Aila damaged 24 points at the embankments leaving the upazila flooded as it is now.

Following the attack of cyclone Aila the Water Development Board repaired the dams in Padmapukur, Shikaribari, and Patharkhali areas.

However, locals alleged that good quality work has not been conducted thus the upazila is flooded again and locals are suffering a severe water-logging situation.

Union Parishad Member Abdul Gaffar Dhali said the embankments weren't providing them much protection from cyclone Amphan. "The WDB's somewhat repair work hadn't been of much use; only wasted money," he added.

Koyra Upazila Chairman SM Shafiqul Islam said: "low quality work has been conducted after cyclone Aila hit the area. People in this area need a durable embankment, not relief products."

The cyclone Amphan lashed the coastal upazilas in Khulna on Wednesday evening, continuing its trail of destruction till the early hours of Thursday before weakening into a land deep depression.

The unusual high tidal surge damaged 40km stretch of embankment breaking it at 21 points. Crops in over 5,000 acres were destroyed while 5,000 fish farms were flooded.

Cyclone Amphan destroyed 83,560 houses in nine upazilas in Khulna leaving over 450,000 people in distress, said sources from the district administration.