Amtali (Barguna) Correspondent :
South Taktabuniya Shelter Project of Haldia Union of Amtali Upazila of Barguna is plagued with various problems. Tin is rusting and falling off due to lack of renovation. Residents tried unsuccessfully to stop any rain water with polythene, bricks, wood, earth on the rice paddies. When it rains, water falls in the house. Rotten rice wood is also falling in the storm.
Whenever it rains day and night, they have to sit with their bedding rolled up. Also, there are many problems but no solution is found. The shelter project is becoming uninhabitable. As a result, some have left the shelter and gone elsewhere. Residents demand speedy reforms.
It is known that in 2002, the Government Khas Zamin (Chare) shelter project was constructed on the west bank of Bashbunia River in Haldia Union of Upazila. The shelter project has 150 houses in 15 barracks. Although built for 150 families, currently more than 100-15 families are living there.
After the construction of the shelter project in 2002, the poor-landless-helpless people lived very well, but after 3/4 years of the construction of the shelter project, the barracks of the project became unfit for living, so they are living inhuman life in different parts of the upazila. 7 out of 8 deep tubewells in 15 barracks are damaged. Two associations are house-broken.
The residents of the shelter project said that the tin rice of every house of the shelter project is getting damaged. Residents have to try to stop any kind of rain water by putting polythene on the rice, brick, wood, soil on it. But whenever it rains, the house gets water. When there is a storm with rain, the rotting wood of the house and the fence also falls down. Apart from this, there are various problems including shortage of daily essential water, fragile sanitation system, poor communication system, rice tins and fences being broken in health care community centers. All in all the barracks of the shelter project have become uninhabitable.
Rahima (50), a resident of the shelter, said, “We are poor people. The government has given us a house to live in and the water falls through it. When it rains, they carry blankets. Another resident of the shelter, Jalal Mia (50), said, “There is no one to see my suffering. I have lived through many hardships. Mo Sultan Mridha, president of the organization of residents of the shelter project, said that our main problem is broken houses, bathrooms and tube wells. Many houses are unlivable due to lack of renovation. As a result, many of the shelter residents have taken shelter at relatives’ homes.
Haldia Union Parishad Chairman Mo Asaduzzaman Mintu Malik said that the people living in the shelter project are living inhumanely, I am drawing the attention of the concerned authorities to urgently renovate the shelter barracks for the normal life of the residents.
Amtali upazila executive officer and president of the upazila task force. Ashraful Alam said over the phone, after inspecting the site, a proposal will be sent to the concerned department for urgent renovation.
