Sylhet’s Flood Relief Distribution Program-2022

sponsored by Bangladesh EPZ Investor’s Association (BEPZIA)

Overview

A devastating flash flood had hit the northeastern Sylhet and Sunamganj districts of Bangladesh. Prolonged heavy rains in northeastern India had affected more than two million people living on the banks of the Surma Kushiyala River in Bangladesh. Many districts of Kanaighat, Gowainghat, Companyganj, Jaintapur, Zakiganj, Sylhet Sadar, Fenchuganj, and Sylhet as well as several districts in Sunamganj and Netrokona districts were flooded. Heavy rain from Wednesday 11 May 2022 exacerbates the flood scenario. More than 300 villages and roads in Companiganj in Sylhet, Gowainghat, and Upazilas in Jaintapur were flooded. 42 emergency shelters for flood victims had been opened in Gowainhat. Meanwhile, water from the Surma River had seeped into buildings and businesses in the vicinity. All road connections to Gowainghat Upazila had been interrupted. About 90% of Upazila residents were trapped.

The third wave flash flood in the northeast of the country also devastated the Sunamganj district, affecting hundreds of thousands of households. MASTUL had dispatched an emergency response team to initiate emergency food distribution in the affected area of Sylhet, Bangladesh. After several days of work, MASTUL, in consultation with local authorities, selected specific areas to work more intensively with flood victims. Volunteers from the MASTUL Foundation worked to distribute drinking water and dry food to the people. MASTUL had made every effort to deliver dry and cooked food to the homes of those who have been soaked. However, large flood currents had always been an obstacle to their efforts.

Bangladesh EPZ Investor’s Association (BEPZIA) had consistently supported the MUSTUL Foundation by using its funds for emergency relief programs and other risk management initiatives. The MASTUL organization provided relief to thousands of flood victims with the help of the Bangladesh EPZ Investor’s Association (BEPZIA). MASTUL would like to thank the BEPZIA club for always coming first and supporting us to help disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. With their help, MASTUL can bring the homeless back home….

Program Summary

• Location of the Programs:

The project was run in the most vulnerable areas of the Sylhet region like Jokiganj, Sunamganj, Gowainghat, Jaintapur, kanaighat Upazila, and so on.

• Beneficiaries:

3 thousand people of Flood-affected communities from Jokiganj, Sunamganj, Gowainghat, Jaintapur, and kanaighat Upazila.

• What kind of Relief had been provided by the program:

The MASTUL group provided food relief was dry food such as rice, lentils, purified water, soybean oil, flour, salt, dry rice, and mustard oil.

• What kind of activities have been performed during the program:

The program was led by Kazi Rayhan Nafiz, Operation Unit Head on behalf of the Mastul Foundation. The MASTUL team has started to distribute relief by providing dry food such as rice, lentils, purified water, soybean oil, flour, salt, dry rice, and mustard oil. But day by day, the water level in the flood area is getting higher and higher, making it impossible for a few people to cook alone. The MASTUL team also went to those remote areas of Sylhet. They instantly cooked Kithudi on a rescue boat and distributed it to the people affected by the flood.

• Story of Program Beneficiary:

“বানের জলে সব গেছে, খাওন নাই, মাথা গোঁজনের ঠায় নেই কেমনে বাচুম কও বাবা “

It might not be possible to understand what is helplessness without seeing these people. Days were passing without eating a single meal, eating dry bread, and sometimes starving. We didn’t stop. Our efforts was continued for the helpless people affected by floods.