Heavy is air in Mirsarai villages

Chittagong, July 13(bdnews24.com) ? The air is still filled with grief in Khoichar, Mayani, Magadia and Shairkhali unions of Mirsarai upazila.

Mourning continues in the unions where an accident took away the lives of 38 children. On Wednesday, the second day after the accident, no class was held in any school of the upazila as part of a three-day mourning programme.

Grieving family members cannot stop their tears, while students who lost their dear friends are speechless with grief.

A condolence meeting was held on Abu Torab High School grounds by the Upazila administration. It was attended by headmasters of different educational institutions and public representatives.

Those who spoke at the condolence meeting, chaired by Upazila chairman Giasuddin, included general secretary Abdul Matin of the Muktijoddah Sangsad Central Command Council, UNO Sayeed Kutub, Mirsarai upazila vice chairman Ferdous hossain, woman vice chairperson Rehana Akhter, Jafar Sadeki , headmaster of Abu Torab High School, Mirsarai College principal Mohammad Sharif, Nizampur College vice principal Mohammad Ali, Barairhat College principal Alamgir Hossain, Abu Torab Dhakhil Madrassa principal Shofiqul Islam Nizami, Khoiyachari Union Parishad chairman Zahidul Islam Chowdhury and Mayani union parishad chairman Kabir Ahmed.

UNO Sayeed Kutub told the bdnews24.com that on the second day also, black flags were hoisted at different schools and colleges. Teachers and students wore black badges.

Besides, prayers were held in three schools in memory of the dead. Schools affected by the tragedy are Abu Torab Govt Primary School, Abu Torab Multipurpose High School, S M Primary School, Abu Torab Fazil Madrashah and Professor Kamal Uddin College.

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Tidal surge hits Barguna villages

Barguna, June 17 (bdnews24.com) -- A tidal surge, caused by depression over the Bay and full moon, has swept 10 villages of the coastal district.

Over 100 families of Burirchar and Nishanbaria villages in Sadar Upazila, Tatulbaria village in Taltali Upazila, west Ghatkhali village in Amtali Upazila, Padma, Mirabari villages in Patharghata Upazila, Aliabad village in Betagi Upazila, Kholpotua and Ramna villages in Bamna Upazila have lost their homes to the rolling water.

The gushing water also swept standing Irri crops on about 900 hectors of land in the villages.

Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan, chairman of Chaora Union Parishad (UP) of Amtali Upazila, told bdnews24.com on Friday that the tidal wave damaged some 500 meters of a flood protection embankment from West Ghatkhali village to Gilatoli village.

Met officials said 50mm of rain was recorded on Thursday night in the district.

They said a 4-5-foot high tidal surge than the usual one hit the villages breaking the flood protection embank at 10 points. Squally wind, caused by the depression, uprooted electric poles and trees, leaving the people of the area without electricity since Thursday night.

At least 10 villages, including West Ghatkhali, Boithakata, Betmore, Uttar Ghatkhali and Dakkhin Ghatkhali were inundated.
West Chaora Registered Primary School stands threatened due to the rolling water, Badal said.

Amtali Upazila agriculture officer Santosh Mondol said standing Aush and Irri crops on around 900 hectors went under water.

President of Taltali Upazila Fishermen Cooperative Society Dulal Farazi, who is also the Barabagi UP chairman, said over 200 fishing trawlers returned from the deep sea due to the bad weather.

Betagi Upazila's Sarishamuri UP chairman Zakir Hossain Faruk said some 100 meters of the flood protection dam at Aliabad and crops on 500 hectors got damaged.

Over 100 people of the area were passing their days in extreme misery for lack of emergency supplies.

Mamataz Begum, 34, of Burirchar village said she along with five other members of her family have been without food since Thursday. They have taken shelter on a local road.

Burichar union council member Abdus Salam said a food crisis might hit the area if the damaged embankment was not repaired immediately.

Ramna UP chairman Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com that three buildings of Khelpotua Government Primary School and a tin-roofed building of the social service department may be devoured by the Biskhali River.

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