Locals voluntarily repair 60-foot embankment in Khulna
More than 2,000 villagers took part in the work in Koyra upazila
More than 2,000 people in Khulna's Koyra upazila took part in repairing a 60-foot embankment on Friday, which was damaged by tidal surges caused by Cyclone Yaas.
People from some 10-15 nearby villages of the Moharajpur union, including Mothbari, Koyra, Srirampur, Arjunpur, Pollimongol, voluntarily participated in repairing the embankment near the River Shakbaria in Mothbari village under the upazila.
"The repair work of the embankment near Moslem Sardar's house in Mothbari village started at around 6 am and continued for six hours. More than 2,000 villagers took part in the work," said SM Shafiqul Islam, chairman of Koyra upazila.
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On Thursday night, through miking, villagers were urged to take part in the repair work of the embankment.
Earlier on Wednesday and Thursday, at least 20 villages were submerged in saltwater after 11 embankments constructed by Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) were broken due to strong tidal surges.
After the surges, more saltwater entered the villages through the damaged embankment on Thursday, said Nitish Sana, a local resident.
"Many villagers have taken refuge in safe places but those who are stuck here are passing through difficult times," he added.
Sanjay Mandal, another resident, said the people of Koyra now want a durable embankment as it is the same situation every year during monsoon.
About the damages caused by the cyclone, GM Abdullah Al Mamun, chairman of Maharajpur union, said, "Cyclone Yaas flooded several villages. Crops have been destroyed and fish enclosures got washed away."
The chairman further said that the damages could have been minimized, if the BWDB had extended adequate cooperation in repairing the embankments.
The Business Standard contacted the BWDB for a comment and Sajjad Hossain, assistant executive engineer, Satkhira Water Development Board-2, said that they assisted the locals who voluntarily repaired the embankment near the River Shakbaria in Mothbari village of Maharajpur union by proving essential equipment.
Currently, other damaged embankments are being monitored and they will soon be repaired, Hossain added.
