Sylhet’s Rehabilitation Program for Flood-Affected Area-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. MASTUL Foundation has taken the initiative to empower 2,000 people to rebuild 1,000 homes destroyed by floods in the Sylhet region through their post-disaster management project named “Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation and Livelihoods for Flood Victims in Sylhet Region”. On Wednesday 27th July 2022, MASTUL Foundation’s post-disaster management project of Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation has officially begun at the South Sunamganj Upazila office by supporting with materials to build houses for half a hundred families affected by the floods.

Bangladesh EPZ Investor’s Association (BEPZIA) has consistently supported the MUSTUL Foundation by using its funds for emergency relief programs and other risk management initiatives. BEPZIA, provided MASTUL with the financial assistance to rebuild damaged homes in flood-affected communities in the Sylhet region in this post-disaster period. 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:

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

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

The MASTUL group provided- 2 bun tins and 20 bamboos, construction materials, and incidental expenses are provided for rehabilitation

• 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 participated in the entire campaign with a strategic plan and disciplined way. The main activities was started in Sunamganj District.

• Story of Program Beneficiaries:

“একমাত্র আলাহ ছাড়া আর কেউ নেই আমার বাবা, জীবনের শেষ কয়ডা দিন যে এই ঘরডাতে কাটামু তারও কোন উপায় নাই । বানে আমার থাকনের জায়গাডাও কেড়ে নিল…..”

Mr. Karim, who had no wife or children, had only a small house full of memories. The catastrophic flood not only took away his house but also his last memory. There is no place to worry in a ruined house. We had taken the initiative to return his shelter and were successfully able to do so…