o n s w e l l e d s u f f e r i n g s o f A i l a h i t p e o p l e i n o n e y e a r

AvBjv`yM©Z gvby‡li GK eQ‡ii Rxeb-hš¿Yv wb‡q mvsevw`‡Ki mv¶¨

cwiKíbv I m¤úv`bv†gvevk¦vi nvmvb, A·dvg

m¤úv`bv mnvqZv

cÖ”Q`wPÎAvwei Ave`yjøvn

BD‡ivwcqvb †cÖm d‡Uv G‡RwÝ (BwcG)

†kl cÖ”Q`†gvevk¦vi nvmvb

A½m¾vAK©

QweGÛªy weivR: _gmb iqUvm©,

Avwbmyi ingvb: †WBwj ÷vi, gwbiæj Bmjvg,

I †gvevk¦vi nvmvb

cÖKvkKMÖvgxY RxebvhvÎvi ¯’vwqZ¡kxj Dbœq‡bi Rb¨

cÖPvivwfhvb (wmGmAviGj) Ges Bgv‡R©wÝ K¨vcvwmwU wewìs cÖ‡R± (Bwmwe) evsjv‡`k KbmwU©qvg

cÖKvkbv mnvqZv

cÖKvkKvj †g 21, 2010

mgwó, †mwjg Kvgvj, Zvwbg Avn‡g` Ges BDmyd †gvnv¤§`

Avwei Ave`yjøvn: BwcG

Bgv‡R©wÝ K¨vcvwmwU wewìs cÖ‡R± (Bwmwe) evsjv‡`k KbmwU©qvg

we‡kl `ªóe¨: cÖKvwkZ †jLvmg~‡ni gZvgZ †jLK‡`i wbR¯^| Gi mv‡_ wmGmAviGj I Bwmwe

GKgZ bvI n‡Z cv‡i| Qwemg~‡ni ¯^Ë¡ d‡Uv mvsevw`K‡`i|

Planning and Editing

Mubashar Hasan, Oxfam

Editing Assistants

Cover Photo

Abir Abdullah,

Europeans Press Photo Agency (EPA)

Back Cover Photo

Mubashar Hasan

Deisgn

Arka

Photo

Andrew Biraj: Thomson Reuters,

Anisur Rahman: Daily Star,

Moneerul Islam,

and Mubashar Hasan

Publisher

Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project Bangladesh Consortuim

Publishing year

May 21, 2010

SoMaSHTe, Selim Kamal, Tanim Ahmed and Yousuf Muhammad

Abir Abdulla: EPA

Publication Support

The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) ProjectBangladesh Consortium

Disclaimer: Published write-ups reflect writers’ personal opinion. ECB and CSRL do not neces-sarily agree with these opinions. Photographers contributed in this testimony own the rights of their photos.

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit people in one yearAvBjv`yM©Z gvby‡li GK eQ‡ii Rxeb-hš¿Yv wb‡q

mvsevw`‡Kimv¶¨

cwiKíbv I m¤úv`bv†gvevk¦vi nvmvb, A·dvg

m¤úv`bv mnvqZv

cÖ”Q`wPÎAvwei Ave`yjøvn

BD‡ivwcqvb †cÖm d‡Uv G‡RwÝ (BwcG)

†kl cÖ”Q`†gvevk¦vi nvmvb

A½m¾vAK©

QweGÛªy weivR: _gmb iqUvm©,

Avwbmyi ingvb: †WBwj ÷vi, gwbiæj Bmjvg,

I †gvevk¦vi nvmvb

cÖKvkKMÖvgxY RxebvhvÎvi ¯’vwqZ¡kxj Dbœq‡bi Rb¨

cÖPvivwfhvb (wmGmAviGj) Ges Bgv‡R©wÝ K¨vcvwmwU wewìs cÖ‡R± (Bwmwe) evsjv‡`k KbmwU©qvg

cÖKvkbv mnvqZv

cÖKvkKvj †g 21, 2010

mgwó, †mwjg Kvgvj, Zvwbg Avn‡g` Ges BDmyd †gvnv¤§`

Avwei Ave`yjøvn: BwcG

Bgv‡R©wÝ K¨vcvwmwU wewìs cÖ‡R± (Bwmwe) evsjv‡`k KbmwU©qvg

we‡kl `ªóe¨: cÖKvwkZ †jLvmg~‡ni gZvgZ †jLK‡`i wbR¯^| Gi mv‡_ wmGmAviGj I Bwmwe

GKgZ bvI n‡Z cv‡i| Qwemg~‡ni ¯^Ë¡ d‡Uv mvsevw`K‡`i|

Planning and Editing

Mubashar Hasan, Oxfam

Editing Assistants

Cover Photo

Abir Abdullah,

Europeans Press Photo Agency (EPA)

Back Cover Photo

Mubashar Hasan

Deisgn

Arka

Photo

Andrew Biraj: Thomson Reuters,

Anisur Rahman: Daily Star,

Moneerul Islam,

and Mubashar Hasan

Publisher

Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project Bangladesh Consortuim

Publishing year

May 21, 2010

SoMaSHTe, Selim Kamal, Tanim Ahmed and Yousuf Muhammad

Abir Abdulla: EPA

Publication Support

The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) ProjectBangladesh Consortium

Disclaimer: Published write-ups reflect writers’ personal opinion. ECB and CSRL do not neces-sarily agree with these opinions. Photographers contributed in this testimony own the rights of their photos.

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit people in one yearAvBjv`yM©Z gvby‡li GK eQ‡ii Rxeb-hš¿Yv wb‡q

mvsevw`‡Kimv¶¨

gyLeÜ Prefacewbiv‡eM wb¯ú„nZvi mxgvbv †cwi‡q

Ae‡k‡l el©c~wZ©i c~e©gyn~‡Z© M„ncÖZ¨veZ©b ïiæ K‡i‡Qb wKQz wKQz gvbyl, hw`I Zv‡Z Rxebgv‡bi ̀ „k¨gvb †ni‡di n‡e bv †KvbIµ‡gB eis †ÿÎwe‡k‡l n‡Z cv‡i Zvi AebwZ; ZeyI wbR Ni †Zv e‡U! 2009 mv‡ji 25 †gÕi N~wY©So I R‡jv”Q¡v‡m cøvweZ Rbc`¸‡jvi g‡a¨ me‡P‡q wech©qKi Ae¯’vq wbcwZZ n‡qwQj Lyjbv-mvZÿxivi Kqiv-`v‡Kvc-k¨vgbM‡ii 11wU BDwbqb| GK eQi a‡i cÖvq Pvi jvL gvby‡li Rxeb †f‡m‡Q wbZ¨; †mªv‡Z, fvOv euva w`‡q †Rvqvi-fvUvi †jvbvcvwbi cÖwZw`‡bi hvIqv-Avmvq|

wKš‘ gvbeZv wbwðý n‡q hvqwb| cøvweZ Rbc`¸‡jvi msMÖvgx gvby‡liv Avi Lyjbv-mvZÿxiv-ivRavbxi mnggx© gvby‡liv, Zv‡`i cÖwZôvbm‡gZ, hvi hvi g‡Zv GKK I mg‡eZfv‡e †Póv K‡i‡Qb bxwZ-wba©viK‡`i g‡bv‡hvM AvKl©Y Ki‡Z| GgbwK bxwZ-wba©viK‡`iI †KD †KD †Póv K‡i‡Qb RbRxe‡bi `y‡f©vM jvN‡ei; wKš‘ Jcwb‡ewkK ey¨‡iv‡µwm †h wbZ¨B Dcwb‡e‡kvËi iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„‡Z¡i Aeva¨ nevi cÖqvm cvq Zvi cÖgvY G‡ÿ‡Î cÖKUfv‡e †Pv‡L-g‡b R¡vjv awi‡q‡Q| ZË¡K_v e‡j: GB Aeva¨Zvi kvw¯Í bv w`‡j, Ges wPiZ‡i eÜ Kivi cÖqvm bv wb‡j, iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„Z¡ †`k cwiPvjbvi ˆbwZK AwaKvi nvivb, Dcwb‡e‡kvËi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„Z¡ cwiYZ nb Jcwb‡ewkK ey¨‡iv‡µwmi AvÁven Zwíevn‡K|

myZivs evsjv‡`k iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„Z¡‡K †LuvR wb‡Z n‡e cvwbm¤ú` gš¿Yvjq I cvwb Dbœqb †evW© wKfv‡e Lv`¨ I `y‡h©vM e¨e¯’vcbv gš¿Yvj‡qi `vwq‡Z¡ wb‡qvwRZ gš¿x I cÖavbgš¿xi wb‡`©kbv Agvb¨ K‡i †ev‡W©i wVKv`vi, eo wPswo e¨emvqx I Zv‡`i myweav‡fvMx ¯’vbxq ivR‰bwZK cÖfvekvjx‡`i m‡½ †hvMmvR‡mi gva¨‡g cÖvq Pvi jvL gvby‡li Rxeb wb‡q wQwbwgwb †Lj‡Z cv‡i| kxZKvj cy‡ivUv cvi n‡q‡Q; e„wócvZ-SoSÅv-R‡jv”Q¡v‡mi Kvj ïiæ n‡q‡Q- hviv M„‡n wd‡i‡Qb I wdi‡Qb, hviv GL‡bv euv‡ai Dci i‡q wM‡q‡Qb, GB †gŠmy‡g Zviv wbivc`- GB wbðqZv †K †`‡e?

wbðqZvi `vwe‡Z mwµqZv engvb MZ GK eQi cÖvq| Lyjbv-mvZÿxivi Kqiv-`v‡Kvc-k¨vgbM‡ii 11wU BDwbq‡bi RbMY Ges Zv‡`i wbe©vwPZ RbcÖwZwbwaMY (hw`I mK‡jB bb, g~jZ BDwbqb cwil‡`i

Beyond diabolical apathy

Slowly but surely, people have at last begun to return to their homesteads almost a year after Cyclone Aila had destroyed their livelihoods and shelters. It is very unlikely they will be returning to a distinctly better life. In fact it might worsen for some. But nonetheless even misery might seem bittersweet under one’s own roof. The people of 11 unions of Koyra-Dacope-Shyamnagar in Khulna-Shatkhira districts were the worst affected on May 25, 2009 when Aila unleashed her fury. Since then, for almost the entire year, the fates of about 400,000 people have floated up and down along with the tides falling and rising.But that has hardly defeated the human spirit. The people of those coastal areas stood up against all odds while sympathetic people of Khulna, Shatkhira and the capital city expressed their solidarity by all means to get the attention of policymakers. Even some of the policymakers tried to highlight the dire plight of the people. But the ghost of bureaucracy that Bangladesh has unfortunately inherited from the colonial era has sunk its roots deep. That sinister red tape defied even today’s policy makers in such a tangle that one cannot help but feel enraged and cry out for the harshest punishment for those responsible. Theoretically, if the political authority of the state does not punish such disobedience, it loses moral authority to govern. In such a case the post colonial political author-ity becomes nothing but a subservient of that colonial bureaucracy. So it is an obligation of the state to investigate how a government agency like the Water Development Board has the audacity to work in favor of certain moneyed quarters, directly opposing directives of the Prime Minister herself as well as the Minister for Food and Disaster Management. The entire winter has passed and the embankments are still not fully

m~wP Content†h bi‡K Av¸b †bB, cvwb Av‡Q : Avkxd GšÍvR iwewmwbqi mn m¤úv`K, ̂ `wbK hyMvšÍi

Victims of a broken promise : Nicolas HaqueCorrespondent, Al Jazeera English

Av‡jvQvqvq AvBjv weaŸ¯Í gyL : cv‡fj ingvb d‡Uvmvsevw`K, G‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (Gwc)

The poor ye shall always have with you : Tanim AhmedAssistant Editor, bdnews24.com

†bvbv iæL‡Z euva, †bvbv evov‡ZI euva : †MŠiv½ b›`xey¨‡iv wPd, Lyjbv, ˆ`wbK Kv‡ji KÉ; cÖ`vqK, wewewm evsjv

Gabura: Where Aila hits daily : Muktadir RashidStaff Correspondent, The Daily New Age

So †_‡g‡Q Kvbœv _v‡gwb : kvgxg Avj Avwgbwe‡kl cÖwZwbwa, P¨v‡bj Iqvb

Testimony of a witness to the Aila havoc : Abir AbdullahPhotojournalist, European Press-photo Agency (EPA), Bangladesh Bureau

cjvqbci Avwg : Ryjnvm AvjgcÖwZwbwa, G‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (&Gwc)

Photo Testimony of the Aila Havoc : Andrew BirajPhotograpaher,Thomson Reuters, Bangladesh Bureau

mvsevw`‡Ki w`bwjwc‡Z ÔAvBjv KóÕ! : cvš’ ingvbwmwbqi ÷vd K‡imc‡Û›U, P¨v‡bj AvB

The nexus of nature and corruption produces endless miseries in a storm-hit land : Wasim Bin HabibStaff Correspondent, The Daily Star

†mB K‡e AvBjv Zvici G‡Zv w`‡bI... : Szgyi evixwmwbqi wi‡cvU©vi, Avi wUwf

Testimony of a cruel game : Tapos Kanti Das Staff Correspondent (Khulna), The Daily New Age

Mveyiv †_‡K †Kv‡cb‡n‡Mb, Avevi Mveyiv... : gbRyiæj Kwig÷vd wi‡cvU©vi, GbwUwf

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gyLeÜ Prefacewbiv‡eM wb¯ú„nZvi mxgvbv †cwi‡q

Ae‡k‡l el©c~wZ©i c~e©gyn~‡Z© M„ncÖZ¨veZ©b ïiæ K‡i‡Qb wKQz wKQz gvbyl, hw`I Zv‡Z Rxebgv‡bi ̀ „k¨gvb †ni‡di n‡e bv †KvbIµ‡gB eis †ÿÎwe‡k‡l n‡Z cv‡i Zvi AebwZ; ZeyI wbR Ni †Zv e‡U! 2009 mv‡ji 25 †gÕi N~wY©So I R‡jv”Q¡v‡m cøvweZ Rbc`¸‡jvi g‡a¨ me‡P‡q wech©qKi Ae¯’vq wbcwZZ n‡qwQj Lyjbv-mvZÿxivi Kqiv-`v‡Kvc-k¨vgbM‡ii 11wU BDwbqb| GK eQi a‡i cÖvq Pvi jvL gvby‡li Rxeb †f‡m‡Q wbZ¨; †mªv‡Z, fvOv euva w`‡q †Rvqvi-fvUvi †jvbvcvwbi cÖwZw`‡bi hvIqv-Avmvq|

wKš‘ gvbeZv wbwðý n‡q hvqwb| cøvweZ Rbc`¸‡jvi msMÖvgx gvby‡liv Avi Lyjbv-mvZÿxiv-ivRavbxi mnggx© gvby‡liv, Zv‡`i cÖwZôvbm‡gZ, hvi hvi g‡Zv GKK I mg‡eZfv‡e †Póv K‡i‡Qb bxwZ-wba©viK‡`i g‡bv‡hvM AvKl©Y Ki‡Z| GgbwK bxwZ-wba©viK‡`iI †KD †KD †Póv K‡i‡Qb RbRxe‡bi `y‡f©vM jvN‡ei; wKš‘ Jcwb‡ewkK ey¨‡iv‡µwm †h wbZ¨B Dcwb‡e‡kvËi iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„‡Z¡i Aeva¨ nevi cÖqvm cvq Zvi cÖgvY G‡ÿ‡Î cÖKUfv‡e †Pv‡L-g‡b R¡vjv awi‡q‡Q| ZË¡K_v e‡j: GB Aeva¨Zvi kvw¯Í bv w`‡j, Ges wPiZ‡i eÜ Kivi cÖqvm bv wb‡j, iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„Z¡ †`k cwiPvjbvi ˆbwZK AwaKvi nvivb, Dcwb‡e‡kvËi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„Z¡ cwiYZ nb Jcwb‡ewkK ey¨‡iv‡µwmi AvÁven Zwíevn‡K|

myZivs evsjv‡`k iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„Z¡‡K †LuvR wb‡Z n‡e cvwbm¤ú` gš¿Yvjq I cvwb Dbœqb †evW© wKfv‡e Lv`¨ I `y‡h©vM e¨e¯’vcbv gš¿Yvj‡qi `vwq‡Z¡ wb‡qvwRZ gš¿x I cÖavbgš¿xi wb‡`©kbv Agvb¨ K‡i †ev‡W©i wVKv`vi, eo wPswo e¨emvqx I Zv‡`i myweav‡fvMx ¯’vbxq ivR‰bwZK cÖfvekvjx‡`i m‡½ †hvMmvR‡mi gva¨‡g cÖvq Pvi jvL gvby‡li Rxeb wb‡q wQwbwgwb †Lj‡Z cv‡i| kxZKvj cy‡ivUv cvi n‡q‡Q; e„wócvZ-SoSÅv-R‡jv”Q¡v‡mi Kvj ïiæ n‡q‡Q- hviv M„‡n wd‡i‡Qb I wdi‡Qb, hviv GL‡bv euv‡ai Dci i‡q wM‡q‡Qb, GB †gŠmy‡g Zviv wbivc`- GB wbðqZv †K †`‡e?

wbðqZvi `vwe‡Z mwµqZv engvb MZ GK eQi cÖvq| Lyjbv-mvZÿxivi Kqiv-`v‡Kvc-k¨vgbM‡ii 11wU BDwbq‡bi RbMY Ges Zv‡`i wbe©vwPZ RbcÖwZwbwaMY (hw`I mK‡jB bb, g~jZ BDwbqb cwil‡`i

Beyond diabolical apathy

Slowly but surely, people have at last begun to return to their homesteads almost a year after Cyclone Aila had destroyed their livelihoods and shelters. It is very unlikely they will be returning to a distinctly better life. In fact it might worsen for some. But nonetheless even misery might seem bittersweet under one’s own roof. The people of 11 unions of Koyra-Dacope-Shyamnagar in Khulna-Shatkhira districts were the worst affected on May 25, 2009 when Aila unleashed her fury. Since then, for almost the entire year, the fates of about 400,000 people have floated up and down along with the tides falling and rising.But that has hardly defeated the human spirit. The people of those coastal areas stood up against all odds while sympathetic people of Khulna, Shatkhira and the capital city expressed their solidarity by all means to get the attention of policymakers. Even some of the policymakers tried to highlight the dire plight of the people. But the ghost of bureaucracy that Bangladesh has unfortunately inherited from the colonial era has sunk its roots deep. That sinister red tape defied even today’s policy makers in such a tangle that one cannot help but feel enraged and cry out for the harshest punishment for those responsible. Theoretically, if the political authority of the state does not punish such disobedience, it loses moral authority to govern. In such a case the post colonial political author-ity becomes nothing but a subservient of that colonial bureaucracy. So it is an obligation of the state to investigate how a government agency like the Water Development Board has the audacity to work in favor of certain moneyed quarters, directly opposing directives of the Prime Minister herself as well as the Minister for Food and Disaster Management. The entire winter has passed and the embankments are still not fully

m~wP Content†h bi‡K Av¸b †bB, cvwb Av‡Q : Avkxd GšÍvR iwewmwbqi mn m¤úv`K, ̂ `wbK hyMvšÍi

Victims of a broken promise : Nicolas HaqueCorrespondent, Al Jazeera English

Av‡jvQvqvq AvBjv weaŸ¯Í gyL : cv‡fj ingvb d‡Uvmvsevw`K, G‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (Gwc)

The poor ye shall always have with you : Tanim AhmedAssistant Editor, bdnews24.com

†bvbv iæL‡Z euva, †bvbv evov‡ZI euva : †MŠiv½ b›`xey¨‡iv wPd, Lyjbv, ˆ`wbK Kv‡ji KÉ; cÖ`vqK, wewewm evsjv

Gabura: Where Aila hits daily : Muktadir RashidStaff Correspondent, The Daily New Age

So †_‡g‡Q Kvbœv _v‡gwb : kvgxg Avj Avwgbwe‡kl cÖwZwbwa, P¨v‡bj Iqvb

Testimony of a witness to the Aila havoc : Abir AbdullahPhotojournalist, European Press-photo Agency (EPA), Bangladesh Bureau

cjvqbci Avwg : Ryjnvm AvjgcÖwZwbwa, G‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (&Gwc)

Photo Testimony of the Aila Havoc : Andrew BirajPhotograpaher,Thomson Reuters, Bangladesh Bureau

mvsevw`‡Ki w`bwjwc‡Z ÔAvBjv KóÕ! : cvš’ ingvbwmwbqi ÷vd K‡imc‡Û›U, P¨v‡bj AvB

The nexus of nature and corruption produces endless miseries in a storm-hit land : Wasim Bin HabibStaff Correspondent, The Daily Star

†mB K‡e AvBjv Zvici G‡Zv w`‡bI... : Szgyi evixwmwbqi wi‡cvU©vi, Avi wUwf

Testimony of a cruel game : Tapos Kanti Das Staff Correspondent (Khulna), The Daily New Age

Mveyiv †_‡K †Kv‡cb‡n‡Mb, Avevi Mveyiv... : gbRyiæj Kwig÷vd wi‡cvU©vi, GbwUwf

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RbcÖwZwbwaMY; Ab¨‡`i e¨vcv‡i gšÍe¨ wb®cÖ‡qvRb) hLbB my‡hvM †c‡q‡Qb gš¿x I iv‡óªi ivR‰bwZK KZ©„‡Z¡i Kv‡Q euva cybwb©g©v‡Yi `vwe Zz‡j a‡i‡Qb| mKj ivR‰bwZK `j I mvgvwRK Av‡›`vj‡bi mgš^‡q MwVZ mvZÿxivi ÔAvBjvq weaŸ¯Í euva wbg©vY MYmsMÖvg KwgwUÕ I Lyjbvi ÔAvBjv `yM©Z msnwZ gÂÕ avivevwnKfv‡e msMwVZ K‡i‡Q MYAv‡›`vjb Ges cÖavbgš¿xi Kvh©vjqmn mswkøó mKj gš¿Yvjq¸‡jv‡Z wbqwgZfv‡e †cÖiY K‡i‡Q ¯’vbxq ev¯ÍeZvi Z_¨ I Rb`vwemg~n| Dc‡Rjv I †Rjv cÖkvm‡bi KZ©ve¨w³ivI Zv‡`i g‡Zv K‡i Z`wei K‡i‡Qb hv‡Z GB el©v ïiæi Av‡M †kl nq euva cybwb©g©vY| ÔMÖvgxY RxebhvÎvi ¯’vwqZ¡kxj Dbœq‡bi Rb¨ cÖPvivwfhvbÕ I ÔbvMwiK msnwZÕ ivRavbx‡Z Av‡qvRb K‡i‡Q G‡Ki ci GK Kg©m~wP| QqwU AvšÍR©vwZK †emiKvwi Dbœqb msMV‡bi †RvU ÔBgv‡R©wÝ K¨vcvwmwU wewìs cÖ‡R±-BwmweÕ Ges B‡KvÕi cvU©bvi, †h¸‡jv AvBjv`yM©Z GjvKvq mn‡hvMx msMV‡bi gva¨‡g cwiPvjbv KiwQj KvR-Lv`¨-¯^v¯’¨-cvbxq cÖ`v‡bi Kg©m~wP, evsjv‡`k miKv‡ii cÖwZ AvnŸvb Rvwb‡qwQj AbwZwej‡¤^ euva wbg©vY †kl Kivi Avi AvšÍR©vwZK `vZv ms¯’v¸‡jvi cÖwZ AvnŸvb Rvwb‡qwQj G‡ÿ‡Î evsjv‡`k miKvi‡K mn‡hvwMZv cÖ`v‡bi| RvZxq I AvšÍR©vwZK MYgva¨g¸‡jv AZ¨šÍ ¸iæ‡Z¡i m‡½ cÖPvi K‡iwQj DwjøwLZ mKj msev`|

MYgva¨gKgx©MY A‡b‡K †ÿ‡Î ̧ iæZ¡ w`‡qwQ‡jb m‡iRwgb cÖwZ‡e`‡bi cÖYq‡b; wM‡q‡Qb AKz¯’‡j| cÖ_vMZ cÖwZ‡e`b Zviv cÖYqb K‡i‡Qb; wKš‘ cwiw¯’wZ Zv‡`i eva¨ K‡i‡Q wbiv‡eM wb¯ú„nZvi mxgvbvI †c‡iv‡Z; Zviv †Zv †iv‡evU bb †h †Kej evBbvwi ms‡KZF× msev` Drcv`b K‡i hv‡eb AbeiZ| wbiv‡eM wb¯ú„nZvi mxgvbv †ciæ‡bv wKQz AbyfemsKjb GB mvsevw`‡Ki mvÿ¨|

†Kvb Av`vj‡Z GB mvÿ¨? gvbyl me©‡kªô I me©kw³gvb| we wnDg¨vbKvBÛ|

wRqvDj nK gy³vm`m¨ mwPeMvÖ gxY RxebhvÎvi ̄ v’ wqZk¡ xj Dbqœ ‡bi Rb¨ cPÖ vivwfhvb (wmGmAviGj)

repaired. The people who are returning to their homestead and those who will return are still faced with the same dilemma that they did through the year — would they be safe? But who will guarantee their safety? Who will vouch for their protection?But this demand for some sort of guarantee has been voiced ever since Aila. It was not just the union level public representatives who waged their movements (with exceptions of course) to attract the attention of the higher authorities, but there were also citizens’ initiatives in Khulna and Shatkhira under two banners of ‘Ailai Bidhostho Badh Nirman Gono Shongram Committee’ and ‘Aila Durgoto Shonghati Moncho’ combining the social and political forces of the districts. They have repeatedly sent reports of what were happening on the ground the needs of the people to the highest public offices of this republic including the Prime Minister’s Office. The Upazila and District Administrations have lobbied too for complet-ing the repair work before the rains come. The Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Nagorik Shanghati have organised series of events. Six international non-government organizations under the banner of ‘Emergency Capacity Building Project’ and partners of ECHO that had been working in the Aila-affected areas, also came together to strongly ask for expediting the repair works. But all the publicity through the organisations or through the public media seems have had no real impact whatsoever.The journalists had given this issue much priority. They went to the affected areas and filed detailed reports. But the prevailing situation born of a diabolical apathy compelled them step out of the infamously clinical objectivity expected of journalists. They have proven they are not robots by producing the news through following binary signals continuously. This publication is merely a compilation of their sentiments in that context. It is their testimony, a testimony for humanity. In which court should these testimonies be placed? Human beings are the greatest and the strongest. Be Humankind.

Ziaul Hoque MuktaMember SecretaryCampaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL)

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Ziaul Hoque MuktaMember SecretaryCampaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL)

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PHOTO: ABIR ABDULLAH

Aila came and went. But the destruction remains. And just like the ebbing tides flowing in and out through the broken embankments, so do tears of the thousands.

6

Victims of a broken promise

estled at the edge of the Sunderbany forest, Gabura Island is where N

human meets nature. On my first two visits before the cyclone Aila, I had seen how the rising sea level was affecting the villagers as they were losing land to the hungry tide and to unscrupulous shrimp farmers.

The brackish water used for farming shrimp had over time rendered the land barren. The villagers were on the move in search of fertile land. But as man continued to experiment with its environment, Mother Nature sent an unexpected message.

On the 25th of May, 2009 Cyclone Aila struck the region, leaving 200000 people homeless, and scores of people dead. This was to be a harsh reminder of how powerless man is in

the hungry some food. But as I walk through the face of nature. Gabura Island, I see the same broken

Natural disasters are not uncommon in the embankments, the same villagers living in

region. After all, there are countless non makeshift tents, the same dire need for food

government organizations (NGO's) in the and drinkable water. And I feel the sense that

country, armed with foreign aid and devel-a promise has been broken.

opment workers who live in the wealthy suburbs of Dhaka and are paid to help villagers 'Build Capacity'.

Nicolas Haque, Correspondent One would of thought that one-year on; the Al Jazeera Englishsituation would have changed for the better.

The homeless would have found a home and 13/05/2010

NICOLAS HAQUE

wiwj‡di †bŠKvi w`‡K †a‡q Avmv gvbyl| cÖ‡qvRb Zxeª, ZvB cvwb †f‡O †nu‡U Avmv|

PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

Victims of a broken promise: People walking through the river at Padmapukur in Satkhira to receive relief materials as roads went under water in June, 2009

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 7

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AvBjv`yM©Z GjvKv| fv½v euv‡ai Kvi‡Y AÂjwU eQi Ry‡oB RjgMœ _v‡K| †Pv‡Li cvwbI ZvB ïKvq bv| Iiv cvwb‡Z fv‡m, Iiv AkÖæ‡ZI fv‡m|

PHOTO: ABIR ABDULLAH

Aila came and went. But the destruction remains. And just like the ebbing tides flowing in and out through the broken embankments, so do tears of the thousands.

6

Victims of a broken promise

estled at the edge of the Sunderbany forest, Gabura Island is where N

human meets nature. On my first two visits before the cyclone Aila, I had seen how the rising sea level was affecting the villagers as they were losing land to the hungry tide and to unscrupulous shrimp farmers.

The brackish water used for farming shrimp had over time rendered the land barren. The villagers were on the move in search of fertile land. But as man continued to experiment with its environment, Mother Nature sent an unexpected message.

On the 25th of May, 2009 Cyclone Aila struck the region, leaving 200000 people homeless, and scores of people dead. This was to be a harsh reminder of how powerless man is in

the hungry some food. But as I walk through the face of nature. Gabura Island, I see the same broken

Natural disasters are not uncommon in the embankments, the same villagers living in

region. After all, there are countless non makeshift tents, the same dire need for food

government organizations (NGO's) in the and drinkable water. And I feel the sense that

country, armed with foreign aid and devel-a promise has been broken.

opment workers who live in the wealthy suburbs of Dhaka and are paid to help villagers 'Build Capacity'.

Nicolas Haque, Correspondent One would of thought that one-year on; the Al Jazeera Englishsituation would have changed for the better.

The homeless would have found a home and 13/05/2010

NICOLAS HAQUE

wiwj‡di †bŠKvi w`‡K †a‡q Avmv gvbyl| cÖ‡qvRb Zxeª, ZvB cvwb †f‡O †nu‡U Avmv|

PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

Victims of a broken promise: People walking through the river at Padmapukur in Satkhira to receive relief materials as roads went under water in June, 2009

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 7

Av‡jvQvqvqAvBjv weaŸ¯Í gyL

cv‡fj ingvb

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d‡Uvmvsevw`KG‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (Gwc)

we had been waiting for some time in strong Sure it was bad. Perhaps a little worse than breeze for a boat. The breeze would have most villages affected. Perhaps a little better Ibeen pleasant at any other place or even than other villages Í remotely tucked away in

under a shade. But the scorching midday sun the idyllic white shoals of Kurigram or the of late March was a little too much for me to lush green hills of Khagrachhari Í that have enjoy the breeze. I had been waiting for at not caught the eye of international NGOs. least half an hour. The large country boat But there was nothing that jumped right up would take me across the river Kholpetua to at your face. Nothing that stood out at first Gabura. where I was hoping to find my story. glance.Actually I had been waiting for two days So there I was, waiting for the story. Still without any luck. sitting on one side of the boat, waiting for it I went to Shyamnagar, a sub-district of to fill up. People piled on in their sleepy pace Shatkhira to visit Gabura union, one of the that Bangldeshi villagers seem to be geneti-worst affected by Cyclone Aila to investigate cally infected with. Some had come from as the state of the affected people ten months far as Shatkhira, some were on their daily after the Cyclone. People had told me about commute.the miseries of Gabura’s inhabitants. They I suddenly discovered that two small chil-told me about their dire plight about living dren implanted themselves, completely on the stretches of embankment that unnoticed, between a perpetually frowning remained firm, how their livelihoods were man and me. He had located them before me robbed by the cruel nexus of nature and and was already appraising the two with a corruption. thorough disapproval as the younger of the Those unfortunate people also told me how two, a muddy little boy of about five, kept they were reduced to living on relief assis- sweating and soiled his white shirt.tance. And for some of those who could go I wondered why the little boy was dripping as back to their homesteads, it became fool- if he had just run a few miles. His sister was hardy to do so. Evidently they seem to have wiping away the beads of sweat pouring fallen victim to ‘moral hazard’. They were down his face with the free end of her ‘orna’. told ‘stay in your makeshift shanty on the With the other end she covered a pitcher full embankment and you will get assistance. Go of muddy water. There were two large plastic home and you will have been considered bottles of mineral water also full of the same rehabilitated and relief would stop almost at muddy water lying by the boy’s feet. They once.’ Not many were willing to risk that in a were tied to the ends of an improvised pole land where sweet water for drink is hard to that used to be a stout branch not very long find. ago. Reema and Jainul were carrying water

TANIM AHMED

The poor ye shallalways have with you

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 98

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cv‡fj ingvb

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KvKWvKv †fv‡iB †ewi‡q cojvg| †fv‡ii Av‡jvq c_Pjvq GKUv Avjv`v Avb›` Av‡Q| G‡ÿ‡Î †g‡Vvc_ n‡j †Zv cv‡fj ingvb, K_vB †bB| wKš‘ c_ Pj‡Z Pj‡Z Avb›`UzKz wd‡K n‡q †Mj| k¨vgbM‡ii c‡_ c‡_ ZLb wbivc` cvwbi R‡b¨ 07/05/2010gvby‡li nvnvKvi| gvB‡ji ci gvBj aŸsm n‡q‡Q evwo|

d‡Uvmvsevw`KG‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (Gwc)

we had been waiting for some time in strong Sure it was bad. Perhaps a little worse than breeze for a boat. The breeze would have most villages affected. Perhaps a little better Ibeen pleasant at any other place or even than other villages Í remotely tucked away in

under a shade. But the scorching midday sun the idyllic white shoals of Kurigram or the of late March was a little too much for me to lush green hills of Khagrachhari Í that have enjoy the breeze. I had been waiting for at not caught the eye of international NGOs. least half an hour. The large country boat But there was nothing that jumped right up would take me across the river Kholpetua to at your face. Nothing that stood out at first Gabura. where I was hoping to find my story. glance.Actually I had been waiting for two days So there I was, waiting for the story. Still without any luck. sitting on one side of the boat, waiting for it I went to Shyamnagar, a sub-district of to fill up. People piled on in their sleepy pace Shatkhira to visit Gabura union, one of the that Bangldeshi villagers seem to be geneti-worst affected by Cyclone Aila to investigate cally infected with. Some had come from as the state of the affected people ten months far as Shatkhira, some were on their daily after the Cyclone. People had told me about commute.the miseries of Gabura’s inhabitants. They I suddenly discovered that two small chil-told me about their dire plight about living dren implanted themselves, completely on the stretches of embankment that unnoticed, between a perpetually frowning remained firm, how their livelihoods were man and me. He had located them before me robbed by the cruel nexus of nature and and was already appraising the two with a corruption. thorough disapproval as the younger of the Those unfortunate people also told me how two, a muddy little boy of about five, kept they were reduced to living on relief assis- sweating and soiled his white shirt.tance. And for some of those who could go I wondered why the little boy was dripping as back to their homesteads, it became fool- if he had just run a few miles. His sister was hardy to do so. Evidently they seem to have wiping away the beads of sweat pouring fallen victim to ‘moral hazard’. They were down his face with the free end of her ‘orna’. told ‘stay in your makeshift shanty on the With the other end she covered a pitcher full embankment and you will get assistance. Go of muddy water. There were two large plastic home and you will have been considered bottles of mineral water also full of the same rehabilitated and relief would stop almost at muddy water lying by the boy’s feet. They once.’ Not many were willing to risk that in a were tied to the ends of an improvised pole land where sweet water for drink is hard to that used to be a stout branch not very long find. ago. Reema and Jainul were carrying water

TANIM AHMED

The poor ye shallalways have with you

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 98

home across the river. I was elated. I had found my story.The children seemed to want to squeeze in even tighter between two adults desperately trying to melt into the crowd. They were actually trying to avoid the eyes of the was a fairly long walk. As she walked down boatmen who would charge them Tk 2 each the shanty-lined earthen walkway of the for crossing the river. Jainul bubbled with the embankment with a pitcher on her waist, typical energy of a five year old and was Jainul failed to keep up with his bottles. His excited at the prospect of buying candies little feet simply would not listen. And when with the money that his mother had given the stranger from Dhaka insisted to carry his Reema after several days of nagging. Reema load, Jainul hardly put up a resistance. This would buy them at a shop near the landing of course earned me enough brownie points station at Gabura. and out of Reema’s earshot Jainul talked his She tried to hush up Jainul several times as heart out.he kept answering my questions. Reema, They had been back in their old house near however, had strong reservations about the the edge of 9th Shora village Í admittedly a strange man asking questions that were strange name Í for a few months now. We none of his business. She eyed the stranger went off the embankment into the barren with a wholehearted suspicion that politely interior of Gabura. I followed them down the well-spoken men with pens and notebooks path having a hard time keeping up with rightly deserve. Reema, balancing the pole on my shoulder But I was determined to brave Reema’s and crossing the many streams that flowed contempt and follow her all the way home. It in from the river. The barren land was plain

Nievwoi mv‡_ †Ljvi gvVwUI Zwj‡q †M‡Q A‰_ cvwbi bx‡P| `iy šÍ ˆkk‡ei ZvB Q‡z U †eov‡bvi m‡y hvM †bB, Av‡Q †Kvbµ‡g †f‡m _vKv wKsev †h‡KvbI mgq W‡y e hvevi mskq

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

The gushing waters conquer all, homesteads and playgrounds alike, like a cruel demon. But childish innocence is pure at heart and defies even the demon.

11

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year10

and almost entirely without vegetation as approval no matter how strong the need. these generally housed large shrimp ponds. They too spoke of the misery of the people.Jainul skipped along beside me. I kept A couple of weeks later I received a phone wishing that the trek would be a long one as I call from 9th Shora village. They had gotten a felt my shirt getting stickier on my back with tube-well and now people did not have to sweat. Then I could come back and write spend hours to fetch water. They were happy. how even a grown-up had a hard time doing And it struck me. I had seen my despair of a chore that mere children were charged ‘not finding a story’ reflected on other faces with. too.So when after just about half an hour of brisk I remembered the heated discussions over walking Jainul pointed to a cluster of huts the misery of the people and each expound-delightfully proclaiming them to be his ing on their own perception of the pervading home, my dismay knew no bounds. It was problems and impressing upon others the hardly 3 kilometres from the landing station. uniqueness of their standpoint and their Another half hour and I could have drunk the proposition to solve the matter once and for entire pitcher. Would have made great copy, I all. Not too different from vultures fighting kept thinking to myself. over a carcass. I remembered the mocking The villagers were all excited. Convinced poem by Ross Coggins. The last lines read:that now, at long last, something good would "Enough of these verses – on with the mission!come their way, namely a tube well. I was the Our task is as broad as the human condition!first person to come see them in the three Just pray god the biblical promise is true:months that people had settled there, they The poor ye shall always have with you."told me, giving due credit to Reema. æYou lured this man all the way from across the river, did you? You wicked you!” Tanim Ahmed, Assistant EditorReema partly glowed at her singular achieve- bdnews24.comment, and partly blushed at the innuendo. 10/05/2010I took leave soon after asking the routine questions and collecting the routine quotes.Lines played out through my head as I finally headed for the ferryboat after going through a few more villages. The perennial question was already nagging Í where to start the story, how best to portray their misery.Over the next two days I spoke to NGO workers and local politicians. I spoke to government officials and contractors repairing the damaged embankments. They were very busy with a meeting here, a discussion there--three tube-wells in that village, one pond sand filter in this one; candies for the children, supplies for the embankment. The discussions were almost necessarily pregnant with urgency, stressing the need for resources. Then of course they had to make sure that everything fit into the frame-work. One could not just be a cowboy and give a go-ahead to something without prior

wi³ gvby‡li ïb¨ `„wó

PHOTO: ABIR ABDULLAH

Empty look of a helpless person

home across the river. I was elated. I had found my story.The children seemed to want to squeeze in even tighter between two adults desperately trying to melt into the crowd. They were actually trying to avoid the eyes of the was a fairly long walk. As she walked down boatmen who would charge them Tk 2 each the shanty-lined earthen walkway of the for crossing the river. Jainul bubbled with the embankment with a pitcher on her waist, typical energy of a five year old and was Jainul failed to keep up with his bottles. His excited at the prospect of buying candies little feet simply would not listen. And when with the money that his mother had given the stranger from Dhaka insisted to carry his Reema after several days of nagging. Reema load, Jainul hardly put up a resistance. This would buy them at a shop near the landing of course earned me enough brownie points station at Gabura. and out of Reema’s earshot Jainul talked his She tried to hush up Jainul several times as heart out.he kept answering my questions. Reema, They had been back in their old house near however, had strong reservations about the the edge of 9th Shora village Í admittedly a strange man asking questions that were strange name Í for a few months now. We none of his business. She eyed the stranger went off the embankment into the barren with a wholehearted suspicion that politely interior of Gabura. I followed them down the well-spoken men with pens and notebooks path having a hard time keeping up with rightly deserve. Reema, balancing the pole on my shoulder But I was determined to brave Reema’s and crossing the many streams that flowed contempt and follow her all the way home. It in from the river. The barren land was plain

Nievwoi mv‡_ †Ljvi gvVwUI Zwj‡q †M‡Q A‰_ cvwbi bx‡P| `iy šÍ ˆkk‡ei ZvB Q‡z U †eov‡bvi m‡y hvM †bB, Av‡Q †Kvbµ‡g †f‡m _vKv wKsev †h‡KvbI mgq W‡y e hvevi mskq

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

The gushing waters conquer all, homesteads and playgrounds alike, like a cruel demon. But childish innocence is pure at heart and defies even the demon.

11

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year10

and almost entirely without vegetation as approval no matter how strong the need. these generally housed large shrimp ponds. They too spoke of the misery of the people.Jainul skipped along beside me. I kept A couple of weeks later I received a phone wishing that the trek would be a long one as I call from 9th Shora village. They had gotten a felt my shirt getting stickier on my back with tube-well and now people did not have to sweat. Then I could come back and write spend hours to fetch water. They were happy. how even a grown-up had a hard time doing And it struck me. I had seen my despair of a chore that mere children were charged ‘not finding a story’ reflected on other faces with. too.So when after just about half an hour of brisk I remembered the heated discussions over walking Jainul pointed to a cluster of huts the misery of the people and each expound-delightfully proclaiming them to be his ing on their own perception of the pervading home, my dismay knew no bounds. It was problems and impressing upon others the hardly 3 kilometres from the landing station. uniqueness of their standpoint and their Another half hour and I could have drunk the proposition to solve the matter once and for entire pitcher. Would have made great copy, I all. Not too different from vultures fighting kept thinking to myself. over a carcass. I remembered the mocking The villagers were all excited. Convinced poem by Ross Coggins. The last lines read:that now, at long last, something good would "Enough of these verses – on with the mission!come their way, namely a tube well. I was the Our task is as broad as the human condition!first person to come see them in the three Just pray god the biblical promise is true:months that people had settled there, they The poor ye shall always have with you."told me, giving due credit to Reema. æYou lured this man all the way from across the river, did you? You wicked you!” Tanim Ahmed, Assistant EditorReema partly glowed at her singular achieve- bdnews24.comment, and partly blushed at the innuendo. 10/05/2010I took leave soon after asking the routine questions and collecting the routine quotes.Lines played out through my head as I finally headed for the ferryboat after going through a few more villages. The perennial question was already nagging Í where to start the story, how best to portray their misery.Over the next two days I spoke to NGO workers and local politicians. I spoke to government officials and contractors repairing the damaged embankments. They were very busy with a meeting here, a discussion there--three tube-wells in that village, one pond sand filter in this one; candies for the children, supplies for the embankment. The discussions were almost necessarily pregnant with urgency, stressing the need for resources. Then of course they had to make sure that everything fit into the frame-work. One could not just be a cowboy and give a go-ahead to something without prior

wi³ gvby‡li ïb¨ `„wó

PHOTO: ABIR ABDULLAH

Empty look of a helpless person

†bvbv iæL‡Z euva,†bvbv evov‡ZI euva

†MŠiv½ b›`x

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PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

Refusing to leave their homesteads, hoping to return someday and begin afresh, thousands live like refugees in shanties.

12

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PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

Refusing to leave their homesteads, hoping to return someday and begin afresh, thousands live like refugees in shanties.

12

Rwgi gvwj‡Ki †KvbI K_v †kvbv nq bv; Avi cvD‡evÕi †`Lv †M‡Q, Kg SuywKc~Y© fvOb GjvKvi `ic‡Î wVKv`viiv †jv‡Kiv Zv‡`i AvÁven AbyP‡ii gZ Ges cywjk Zvu‡`i Ask wb‡jI me‡P‡q gvivZ¥K Ges AwaK SuywKc~Y© GjvKvi civgk© wb‡q P‡j| euva B‡”QgZ KvuUv-†Qov Zuv‡`i AwaKvi `ic‡Î †KD Ask †bqwb| Kqiv Dc‡Rjvi cebv GjvKvi (!), KviY Zvuiv †`‡k we‡`kx gy`ªv (Wjvi) Av‡b| gVevwoi ̀ ywU RvqMv, wkKvix evwo, cv_iLvjx Ges cÙcyKyi;

`v‡Kv‡ci bwjqvb; k¨vgbM‡ii Mveyiv, cÙcyKzi GjvKvq AvBjvq †ewoeuva †f‡O covi †cQ‡b †hme KviY KvR euv‡ai fvOb wQj gvivZ¥K| Gme RvqMvq Av‡M wis evua K‡i‡Q Zvi cÖvq me¸‡jvB wPswo Pvl m¤úwK©Z| euv‡ai w`‡q c‡i †K¬vRvi †`Iqvi K_v fvev nw”Qj; wKš‘ GB †fZi w`‡q wbwe©Pv‡i cvBc I A‰ea møyBP †MU wbg©vY Ges RvqMv¸‡jvi AwaKvsk GjvKv G eQ‡ii gvP© gv‡mi c~wY©gvi euva †K‡U †bvbvcvwb †XvKv‡bvi Kvi‡Y Av‡M †_‡KB †Rvqv‡i AveviI a‡m hvq| †euwoeva¸‡jv `ye©j n‡q c‡o| †fZi w`‡K AwZwi³

jeYv³Zvi cÖfv‡e gvwUi ̄ ^vfvweK kw³I bó n‡q hvq| Avi cvD‡ev †KvbI GKwU Kv‡Ri R‡b¨ m‡e©v”P Qqevi `icÎ euva iÿvi R‡b¨ evu‡ai evB‡i (b`xi cv‡o) †h f~wg wQj, AvnŸvb Ki‡Z cv‡i; Zvici †h‡KvbI wm×všÍ wb‡Z cv‡i| `xN©w`‡bi cvBc emv‡bv, evua KvUv, B‡”Qg‡Zv møyBP †MU Zv‡`i ZvwjKvfy³ wVKv`vi Kg nIqvq Ges euva euva‡ZB emv‡bv- Gme Kvi‡Y IB f~wg †ewkifvM †ÿ‡Î b`xM‡f© n‡e, Ggb my‡hvM Kv‡R jvwM‡q wVKv`viiv Abxnv †`wL‡q wejxb n‡q hvq| d‡j GLb mivmwi evu‡ai Ici b`xi cvwbi KvRwUi R‡b¨ UvKv evwo‡q †`q e‡jI †KD †KD Awf‡hvM Pvc c‡o| K‡ib| Aek¨ miKvwi µqwewa‡Z (cvewjK cÖwKIi‡g›U

†i¸‡jkb) Riæwi cwiw¯’wZ †gvKv‡ejvi R‡b¨ we‡kl AvBjvq weaŸ¯Í nIqvi Av‡MB 14 dzU PIov euva¸‡jv ÿ‡q we‡ePbvq Kvh©v‡`k †`Iqvi wbqg i‡q‡Q, cvD‡ev welqwU ÿ‡q PIovq 6 †_‡K 8 dzU I D”PZvq MÖv‡gi mvaviY iv¯Ívi †mBfv‡e †`L‡Z cviZ| wKš‘ cvD‡ev KZ©viv gvby‡li ̀ y‡f©vM iƒc †bq| G Kvi‡Y GB †ewoeuva¸‡jv fiv †Rvqv‡ii Pvc jvN‡ei welqwU h_vh_ ̧ iæZ¡ w`‡q‡Qb e‡j g‡b n‡jv bv|mn¨ Kivi ÿgZvB nvwi‡q †d‡j| Gi cÖgvY 2007 I

2008 mv‡j k¨vgbM‡ii Mveyiv I Kqivi `wÿY †e`Kvkxi A‡bK fy³‡fvMx g‡b K‡ib, euva fvOv _vK‡j b`xi euva¸‡jvq fvOb| GQvov 25 †g AvBjv AvNvZ nvbvi Av‡Mi †bvbvcvwb IVv-bvgv Ki‡j wPswoPvlx‡`i A‡bK myweav| w`b Kqivi gw`bvev` GjvKvq euva †f‡O hvq| Avi DËi I KviY, eZ©gv‡b †ewkifvM Rwg-gvwjK‡`i g‡a¨ wPswo `wÿY †e`Kvkx GjvKvi we¯ÍxY© GjvKvRy‡o Av‡M †_‡KB Pvlwe‡ivax g‡bvfve cÖej, Kg Rwgi gvwjKiv †Zv †bvbvcvwb ̂ _ ̂ _ KiwQj| †bvbvcvwbi wPswo Pvl Pvq bv| abx K…lK, kû‡i

UvKvIqvjviv GL‡bv MÖv‡gi Mwie K…l‡Ki Nvo gU‡K wPswo 1952 mv‡ji ÔGge¨vsK‡g›U †cÖv‡UKkb A¨v±Õ Abyhvqx Pvl Ki‡Z Pvq| G Kvi‡Y GjvKvq euva euvav bv n‡j †ewoeuva wbqš¿Y, iÿYv‡eÿY Ges ms¯‹v‡ii `vwqZ¡ †bvbvcvwb‡Z Ab¨ †Kv‡bv dmj n‡e bvÑ GB ARynv‡Z Zviv cvD‡evi| Kg©x ̄ ^íZv, ÿgZvi fvimvg¨nxbZvi m‡½ ̄ ’vbxq AveviI wPswo Pvl Ki‡Z cvi‡e; (Aek¨, eû GjvKvq miKvi, cÖkvmb I K…wlwfwËK Rb‡Mvôxi AskMÖn‡Yi AveviI †bvbvcvwb Zz‡j wPswo Pvl Kivi cÖeYZv †`‡L GB Afv‡e †ewoeuva¸‡jvi e¨e¯’vcbv cÖKvivšÍ‡i cÖfvekvjx Awf‡hvM wek¦vm Ki‡Z Kó nq bv)| we¯§qKi n‡”Q, †h wPswo †Ni gvwjK‡`i nv‡Z P‡j wM‡q‡Q| Avi gvgjv K‡iB RbcÖwZwbwaiv msm` wbe©vP‡bi Av‡M †bvbvcvwbi wPswo Pvl cvD‡ev Zvi `vwqZ¡ †kl K‡i| Aek¨, KiviI wKQz †bB| n‡e e‡j A½xKvi K‡iwQ‡jb, †mB RbcÖwZwbwaiv Avevi KviY ZLb welqwU AvBbk„•Ljv m¤úwK©Z welq| cywjk wPswo Pv‡l Drmvn w`‡”Qb| †KvbI †KvbI †ÿ‡Î whwbB A‰ea euva KvUv, dz‡Uv Kiv A_ev euv‡ai ÿwZmva‡bi R‡b¨ wPswo Pvlx, wZwbB wVKv`vi, Avevi wZwbB RbcÖwZwbwa; Gi KvD‡K †MÖdZvi Ki‡Z cv‡i bv; KviY Zviv cÖfvekvjx| dj wn‡m‡e mvaviY gvby‡li `y‡f©vM µgvMZ †e‡o P‡j‡Q| Avi GB Aciv‡ai kvw¯Í gvÎ K‡qKkÕ UvKv| G Kvi‡Y †KD GB ̀ y‡f©v‡Mi Aemvb K‡e n‡e?- AvcvZZ Zv ejvi †KvbI euv‡ai ÿwZ Kiv‡K †KvbI ¸iæZi Aciva e‡j we‡ePbv my‡hvM †bB|K‡i bv| `y‡h©vMMÖ¯Í GjvKvwU‡K miKvwifv‡e `yM©Z GjvKv †NvlYv AvBjvi AvNv‡Z `v‡Kv‡ci `yB BDwbq‡bi 18 wK‡jvwgUvi Kiv nqwb| `y‡h©v‡Mi wkKvi gvbyl¸‡jv w`‡bi ci w`b †ewoevua m¤ú~Y© Ges 20 wK‡jvwgUvi euva AvswkKfv‡e AgvbweK Rxeb KvUv‡”Q| Avgv‡`i †`‡k Ggb †KvbI ÿwZMÖ¯Í nq| Kv‡Ri wewbgq Lv`¨ Ges GbwRI‡`i K¨vk AvBb ev wewaweavb †bB hvi gva¨‡g `y‡h©v‡Mi wkKvi di IqvK©-Gi gva¨‡g wKQy iv¯Ív †givg‡Zi KvR n‡q‡Q| gvbyl¸‡jv †KvbI cÖwZKvi †c‡Z cv‡i| Avgiv wK ̀ y‡h©v‡Mi euva wbg©vY cÖm‡½ cvwb Dbœqb †ev‡W©i Lyjbv-2 A‡ji wkKvi gvbyl¸‡jvi AwaKvi iÿvq †KvbI AvBb ̂ Zwi Ki‡Z wbev©nx cÖ‡KŠkjx †gvmv‡ÏK †nv‡mb e‡jb, ÔKvgvi‡Lvjv I cvwi bv? AvBbcÖ‡YZviv wK welqwU †f‡e †`L‡eb? myZviLvjxi mvZwU eo fvOb GjvKvi †K¬vRvi¸‡jv

†givg‡Zi R‡b¨ MZ 15 wW‡m¤^i 2009 †_‡K GKvwaKevi †UÛvi Avnevb Kiv nq|Õ †kl ch©šÍ cvD‡ev Kvh©v‡`k w`‡Z †MŠiv½ b›`x, ey¨‡iv wPd, Lyjbv15 †deªæqvwi 2010 ch©šÍ mgq †bqvq b`x‡Z †Rvqv‡ii ˆ`wbK Kv‡ji KÉ; cÖ`vqK, wewewm evsjvZxeªZv †e‡o hvq| euva euvav KwVb n‡q c‡o| GKvwaK 06/05/2010RvqMvq AveviI euva †f‡O hvq|

14

hen I visited Aila hit southwestern farmer and businessman. Tahera, who is a part in the country almost after a part of a seven-member family, told me that Wyear of the cyclone, I found that before the cyclone Aila hit her area, her

crisis of drinking water, loss of livelihoods, father used to earn about Tk 30,000 monthly health problems are a cruel reality for the from shrimp fry farming and shrimp related people in villages of 9th shora and Kholpetua business. ‘Now, my father goes to River under Gabura Union of Satkhira District. Kholpetua for catching shrimp fry and crab After visiting those villages it appeared to me everyday as he has no option to earn except that in those villages Aila strikes everyday. fishing,’ Tahera said. Rahim’s earning is now Cyclone Aila hit the region on May 25, 2009. reduced to less than Tk 3,000 in a month. As Though Aila was not so devastating like a result the living standard of the business-cyclone Sidr in terms of killing people but its man’ family has been totally changed. Like impact was severe as it created serious socio- Tahera’s father, living standard of many economic and environmental imbalance. people in those villages fell drastically since a

large number of people have to live on On May 13, 2010 I saw the people in embankments as homeless.Kholpetoa village needs to walk on average

four kilometers or cross the same distance by The government took several rehabilitation small boats to collect drinking water, pro- programs but most of the implementing vided by some local and international NGOs. agencies were idle, showing numbers of The locals said that an international NGO in excuses derived from corruption. It would cooperation with a local NGO were provid- have been more appropriate if a high pow-ing each family at least five liters water in ered and independent agency could carry three consecutive days, which was insuffi- out the government orders in post disaster cient with the demands for the 595 house- period. Or I wonder if a disaster manage-holds in the village. They alleged that the ment act empowering people’s right could local lawmaker and peoples representatives have saved thousands in this region.were yet to address such severe problem. ‘I do not find any change one year after of Aila

Muktadir Rashid, Staff Correspondenthit the area,’ Samiron Khatun said. I met The Daily New Age with a madrasa student Tahera Khatun, 17,

daughter of GM Abdur Rahim, a shrimp 15/05/2010

MUKTADIR RASHID

Gabura:Where Aila hits daily

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 15

Rwgi gvwj‡Ki †KvbI K_v †kvbv nq bv; Avi cvD‡evÕi †`Lv †M‡Q, Kg SuywKc~Y© fvOb GjvKvi `ic‡Î wVKv`viiv †jv‡Kiv Zv‡`i AvÁven AbyP‡ii gZ Ges cywjk Zvu‡`i Ask wb‡jI me‡P‡q gvivZ¥K Ges AwaK SuywKc~Y© GjvKvi civgk© wb‡q P‡j| euva B‡”QgZ KvuUv-†Qov Zuv‡`i AwaKvi `ic‡Î †KD Ask †bqwb| Kqiv Dc‡Rjvi cebv GjvKvi (!), KviY Zvuiv †`‡k we‡`kx gy`ªv (Wjvi) Av‡b| gVevwoi ̀ ywU RvqMv, wkKvix evwo, cv_iLvjx Ges cÙcyKyi;

`v‡Kv‡ci bwjqvb; k¨vgbM‡ii Mveyiv, cÙcyKzi GjvKvq AvBjvq †ewoeuva †f‡O covi †cQ‡b †hme KviY KvR euv‡ai fvOb wQj gvivZ¥K| Gme RvqMvq Av‡M wis evua K‡i‡Q Zvi cÖvq me¸‡jvB wPswo Pvl m¤úwK©Z| euv‡ai w`‡q c‡i †K¬vRvi †`Iqvi K_v fvev nw”Qj; wKš‘ GB †fZi w`‡q wbwe©Pv‡i cvBc I A‰ea møyBP †MU wbg©vY Ges RvqMv¸‡jvi AwaKvsk GjvKv G eQ‡ii gvP© gv‡mi c~wY©gvi euva †K‡U †bvbvcvwb †XvKv‡bvi Kvi‡Y Av‡M †_‡KB †Rvqv‡i AveviI a‡m hvq| †euwoeva¸‡jv `ye©j n‡q c‡o| †fZi w`‡K AwZwi³

jeYv³Zvi cÖfv‡e gvwUi ̄ ^vfvweK kw³I bó n‡q hvq| Avi cvD‡ev †KvbI GKwU Kv‡Ri R‡b¨ m‡e©v”P Qqevi `icÎ euva iÿvi R‡b¨ evu‡ai evB‡i (b`xi cv‡o) †h f~wg wQj, AvnŸvb Ki‡Z cv‡i; Zvici †h‡KvbI wm×všÍ wb‡Z cv‡i| `xN©w`‡bi cvBc emv‡bv, evua KvUv, B‡”Qg‡Zv møyBP †MU Zv‡`i ZvwjKvfy³ wVKv`vi Kg nIqvq Ges euva euva‡ZB emv‡bv- Gme Kvi‡Y IB f~wg †ewkifvM †ÿ‡Î b`xM‡f© n‡e, Ggb my‡hvM Kv‡R jvwM‡q wVKv`viiv Abxnv †`wL‡q wejxb n‡q hvq| d‡j GLb mivmwi evu‡ai Ici b`xi cvwbi KvRwUi R‡b¨ UvKv evwo‡q †`q e‡jI †KD †KD Awf‡hvM Pvc c‡o| K‡ib| Aek¨ miKvwi µqwewa‡Z (cvewjK cÖwKIi‡g›U

†i¸‡jkb) Riæwi cwiw¯’wZ †gvKv‡ejvi R‡b¨ we‡kl AvBjvq weaŸ¯Í nIqvi Av‡MB 14 dzU PIov euva¸‡jv ÿ‡q we‡ePbvq Kvh©v‡`k †`Iqvi wbqg i‡q‡Q, cvD‡ev welqwU ÿ‡q PIovq 6 †_‡K 8 dzU I D”PZvq MÖv‡gi mvaviY iv¯Ívi †mBfv‡e †`L‡Z cviZ| wKš‘ cvD‡ev KZ©viv gvby‡li ̀ y‡f©vM iƒc †bq| G Kvi‡Y GB †ewoeuva¸‡jv fiv †Rvqv‡ii Pvc jvN‡ei welqwU h_vh_ ̧ iæZ¡ w`‡q‡Qb e‡j g‡b n‡jv bv|mn¨ Kivi ÿgZvB nvwi‡q †d‡j| Gi cÖgvY 2007 I

2008 mv‡j k¨vgbM‡ii Mveyiv I Kqivi `wÿY †e`Kvkxi A‡bK fy³‡fvMx g‡b K‡ib, euva fvOv _vK‡j b`xi euva¸‡jvq fvOb| GQvov 25 †g AvBjv AvNvZ nvbvi Av‡Mi †bvbvcvwb IVv-bvgv Ki‡j wPswoPvlx‡`i A‡bK myweav| w`b Kqivi gw`bvev` GjvKvq euva †f‡O hvq| Avi DËi I KviY, eZ©gv‡b †ewkifvM Rwg-gvwjK‡`i g‡a¨ wPswo `wÿY †e`Kvkx GjvKvi we¯ÍxY© GjvKvRy‡o Av‡M †_‡KB Pvlwe‡ivax g‡bvfve cÖej, Kg Rwgi gvwjKiv †Zv †bvbvcvwb ̂ _ ̂ _ KiwQj| †bvbvcvwbi wPswo Pvl Pvq bv| abx K…lK, kû‡i

UvKvIqvjviv GL‡bv MÖv‡gi Mwie K…l‡Ki Nvo gU‡K wPswo 1952 mv‡ji ÔGge¨vsK‡g›U †cÖv‡UKkb A¨v±Õ Abyhvqx Pvl Ki‡Z Pvq| G Kvi‡Y GjvKvq euva euvav bv n‡j †ewoeuva wbqš¿Y, iÿYv‡eÿY Ges ms¯‹v‡ii `vwqZ¡ †bvbvcvwb‡Z Ab¨ †Kv‡bv dmj n‡e bvÑ GB ARynv‡Z Zviv cvD‡evi| Kg©x ̄ ^íZv, ÿgZvi fvimvg¨nxbZvi m‡½ ̄ ’vbxq AveviI wPswo Pvl Ki‡Z cvi‡e; (Aek¨, eû GjvKvq miKvi, cÖkvmb I K…wlwfwËK Rb‡Mvôxi AskMÖn‡Yi AveviI †bvbvcvwb Zz‡j wPswo Pvl Kivi cÖeYZv †`‡L GB Afv‡e †ewoeuva¸‡jvi e¨e¯’vcbv cÖKvivšÍ‡i cÖfvekvjx Awf‡hvM wek¦vm Ki‡Z Kó nq bv)| we¯§qKi n‡”Q, †h wPswo †Ni gvwjK‡`i nv‡Z P‡j wM‡q‡Q| Avi gvgjv K‡iB RbcÖwZwbwaiv msm` wbe©vP‡bi Av‡M †bvbvcvwbi wPswo Pvl cvD‡ev Zvi `vwqZ¡ †kl K‡i| Aek¨, KiviI wKQz †bB| n‡e e‡j A½xKvi K‡iwQ‡jb, †mB RbcÖwZwbwaiv Avevi KviY ZLb welqwU AvBbk„•Ljv m¤úwK©Z welq| cywjk wPswo Pv‡l Drmvn w`‡”Qb| †KvbI †KvbI †ÿ‡Î whwbB A‰ea euva KvUv, dz‡Uv Kiv A_ev euv‡ai ÿwZmva‡bi R‡b¨ wPswo Pvlx, wZwbB wVKv`vi, Avevi wZwbB RbcÖwZwbwa; Gi KvD‡K †MÖdZvi Ki‡Z cv‡i bv; KviY Zviv cÖfvekvjx| dj wn‡m‡e mvaviY gvby‡li `y‡f©vM µgvMZ †e‡o P‡j‡Q| Avi GB Aciv‡ai kvw¯Í gvÎ K‡qKkÕ UvKv| G Kvi‡Y †KD GB ̀ y‡f©v‡Mi Aemvb K‡e n‡e?- AvcvZZ Zv ejvi †KvbI euv‡ai ÿwZ Kiv‡K †KvbI ¸iæZi Aciva e‡j we‡ePbv my‡hvM †bB|K‡i bv| `y‡h©vMMÖ¯Í GjvKvwU‡K miKvwifv‡e `yM©Z GjvKv †NvlYv AvBjvi AvNv‡Z `v‡Kv‡ci `yB BDwbq‡bi 18 wK‡jvwgUvi Kiv nqwb| `y‡h©v‡Mi wkKvi gvbyl¸‡jv w`‡bi ci w`b †ewoevua m¤ú~Y© Ges 20 wK‡jvwgUvi euva AvswkKfv‡e AgvbweK Rxeb KvUv‡”Q| Avgv‡`i †`‡k Ggb †KvbI ÿwZMÖ¯Í nq| Kv‡Ri wewbgq Lv`¨ Ges GbwRI‡`i K¨vk AvBb ev wewaweavb †bB hvi gva¨‡g `y‡h©v‡Mi wkKvi di IqvK©-Gi gva¨‡g wKQy iv¯Ív †givg‡Zi KvR n‡q‡Q| gvbyl¸‡jv †KvbI cÖwZKvi †c‡Z cv‡i| Avgiv wK ̀ y‡h©v‡Mi euva wbg©vY cÖm‡½ cvwb Dbœqb †ev‡W©i Lyjbv-2 A‡ji wkKvi gvbyl¸‡jvi AwaKvi iÿvq †KvbI AvBb ̂ Zwi Ki‡Z wbev©nx cÖ‡KŠkjx †gvmv‡ÏK †nv‡mb e‡jb, ÔKvgvi‡Lvjv I cvwi bv? AvBbcÖ‡YZviv wK welqwU †f‡e †`L‡eb? myZviLvjxi mvZwU eo fvOb GjvKvi †K¬vRvi¸‡jv

†givg‡Zi R‡b¨ MZ 15 wW‡m¤^i 2009 †_‡K GKvwaKevi †UÛvi Avnevb Kiv nq|Õ †kl ch©šÍ cvD‡ev Kvh©v‡`k w`‡Z †MŠiv½ b›`x, ey¨‡iv wPd, Lyjbv15 †deªæqvwi 2010 ch©šÍ mgq †bqvq b`x‡Z †Rvqv‡ii ˆ`wbK Kv‡ji KÉ; cÖ`vqK, wewewm evsjvZxeªZv †e‡o hvq| euva euvav KwVb n‡q c‡o| GKvwaK 06/05/2010RvqMvq AveviI euva †f‡O hvq|

14

hen I visited Aila hit southwestern farmer and businessman. Tahera, who is a part in the country almost after a part of a seven-member family, told me that Wyear of the cyclone, I found that before the cyclone Aila hit her area, her

crisis of drinking water, loss of livelihoods, father used to earn about Tk 30,000 monthly health problems are a cruel reality for the from shrimp fry farming and shrimp related people in villages of 9th shora and Kholpetua business. ‘Now, my father goes to River under Gabura Union of Satkhira District. Kholpetua for catching shrimp fry and crab After visiting those villages it appeared to me everyday as he has no option to earn except that in those villages Aila strikes everyday. fishing,’ Tahera said. Rahim’s earning is now Cyclone Aila hit the region on May 25, 2009. reduced to less than Tk 3,000 in a month. As Though Aila was not so devastating like a result the living standard of the business-cyclone Sidr in terms of killing people but its man’ family has been totally changed. Like impact was severe as it created serious socio- Tahera’s father, living standard of many economic and environmental imbalance. people in those villages fell drastically since a

large number of people have to live on On May 13, 2010 I saw the people in embankments as homeless.Kholpetoa village needs to walk on average

four kilometers or cross the same distance by The government took several rehabilitation small boats to collect drinking water, pro- programs but most of the implementing vided by some local and international NGOs. agencies were idle, showing numbers of The locals said that an international NGO in excuses derived from corruption. It would cooperation with a local NGO were provid- have been more appropriate if a high pow-ing each family at least five liters water in ered and independent agency could carry three consecutive days, which was insuffi- out the government orders in post disaster cient with the demands for the 595 house- period. Or I wonder if a disaster manage-holds in the village. They alleged that the ment act empowering people’s right could local lawmaker and peoples representatives have saved thousands in this region.were yet to address such severe problem. ‘I do not find any change one year after of Aila

Muktadir Rashid, Staff Correspondenthit the area,’ Samiron Khatun said. I met The Daily New Age with a madrasa student Tahera Khatun, 17,

daughter of GM Abdur Rahim, a shrimp 15/05/2010

MUKTADIR RASHID

Gabura:Where Aila hits daily

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 15

So †_‡g‡QKvbœv _v‡gwb

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17

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04/05/2010GbwRI¸‡jvi G‡ÿ‡Î we‡klfv‡e KvR Kivi Av‡Q|

K‡e wdi‡e Rxe‡bi ¯^w¯ÍÑD`vm `„wó wb‡q cÖZx¶vi cÖni ¸‡Yb AvBjv`yM©Ziv

PHOTO: MUBASHAR HASAN

They hope against all odds and look into the horizon whence the sun rises and sets everyday. It seems almost as far away as their hope for a better life.

16

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04/05/2010GbwRI¸‡jvi G‡ÿ‡Î we‡klfv‡e KvR Kivi Av‡Q|

K‡e wdi‡e Rxe‡bi ¯^w¯ÍÑD`vm `„wó wb‡q cÖZx¶vi cÖni ¸‡Yb AvBjv`yM©Ziv

PHOTO: MUBASHAR HASAN

They hope against all odds and look into the horizon whence the sun rises and sets everyday. It seems almost as far away as their hope for a better life.

16

19

was doing a photo assignment for and started cultivating shrimp instead of Oxfam GB with its Oxford based farming crops. It was mere a shift in business Iresearcher and filmmaker Sandhya Suri for them. But for others who do not have a

at Gabura area in Satkhira district of piece of land, the shrimp business just Bangladesh. The plan was to make an worsened their sufferings.interactive documentary on the effects of People of Satkhira saw raindrops after eight climate change with videos and photo- months that year. It seemed quite relieving graphs. We started our work on May 13, 2009 though the rains could not clam the area that after visiting Gabura Village, one of the got almost charred by the scorching heat left villages in the country severely affected by by the sun for eight months. But people got changing climate. some water at least to drink during the rains. Everything in the village was fine before. Also they did not miss any chance to store Despite the crisis of drinking water, poor rainwater-- as much as possible. They were harvests, increase in salinity and drought ecstatic and celebrating rain. I heard a little villagers’ condition was not that miserable girl was singing in the rian. Only if they knew until cyclone Aila hit the area. that a powerful cyclone was following the During a trip to the village before the devas- rain!!tating storm, we saw people of different ages After working on several cases, i.e landless and sexes, women in particular, catching farmers, shrimp farming, attacks by tigers on shrimp fry in the nearby river. The fry are villagers and documenting the visuals of sold to the shrimp cultivators. The poor environmental degradation, we came back villagers were quite happy with the river to Dhaka on May 24,2009. Nobody could since there were hardly any other jobs there have even imagined an impending disaster other than working in shrimp field although the very next day. I heard about a cyclone the history of shrimp farming is new. warning from a friend in Satkhira but did not We met a guy called Abdul Aziz in pay much attention to it and thought it was a Lakkhikhali Village who was weeding at a false alarm.field that was previously used for growing The next day, I was taking rest at home when crops. But the increasing salinity in under- the news of cyclone Aila striking Satkhira ground water left the field completely came to me at about 11:00am. I heard that unfertile, 32-year-old Aziz said. It is the Gabura village was hit hard by the cyclone. global warming that resulted in the increase Following few minutes I received a phone in salinity in water. Many took it as blessings call from Sandhya Suri and got ready to go

ABIR ABDULLAH

Testimony ofa witness tothe Aila havoc

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year

back to Satkhira. We packed up and started and dear ones.our journey around 2:00pm. Within few There were several thousand hungry and hours, we reached Aricha ferry station but exhausted people on the embankment. They we had to change our route as no ferry was were not thinking about when they would departing from the station because of rough return home. They were rather worried weather. We had to have a detour and about the swelling water that might even reached Gabura the next morning. worsen the situation and force them to move It was the embankment in the village that further. The sky was gloomy and smell of attracted our attention at first. There was a dead bodies of human and cattle made the major breach in it and water was flowing atmosphere miserable. People were horri-over and through the embankment sub- fied. The army was supplying food and water merging the entire village and forcing but it was far less than enough.residents to run for shelters with their However I was on duty and started to capture belongings on the broken embankemnt. I photos for European Pressphoto Agency. saw many villagers still trying to collect Meanwhile panicked people were moving essentials from their houses that submerged around to carve out a place to spend the in the water. I also saw many others were night safe, as it was getting dark. At that point cooking food under open sky. I heard kids one of victims turned to me and started were crying in fear and in hunger. It was asking me where they would go now. “We’ve surreal to me cause I was there couple of lost everything. There is nothing to eat or days ago when everything was calm and drink,” he said.quiet. I waded barefoot about five kilome- I did not have any answer for him. I turned ters in knee-high water and reached a dry dumb thinking the condition of these place where 13 dead bodies were kept. Of the people. I justify my position to me by think-dead, eight were children and the rest were ing what could I really do for them while I women. It was nerve braking. I was the first was on duty? I am a photojournalist. photojournalist to reach that place and Through my photographs I let the world photograph the relatives of the deceased know about the tragedies of Aila affected who were lamenting sitting around the people. Photographs speak for themselves. bodies. Some were browsing through the The appeal of photographs galvanizes the dead bodies to identify their missing near government, non-government organiza-

tions and other humanitarian bodies to come up with help. I have done everything I possibly could with my camera to help these people. However, now I become frustrated when I see thousands of survivors are still suffering almost a year after Aila. They need urgent help to go back to their homes; it is their right as the citizen of the country not to spend as homeless months after months under open sky and they should be compen-sated by the government for living such a miserable life for past one year.

Abir Abdullah, Photojournalist

European Press-photo Agency (EPA)

Bangladesh Bureau

he can be reached at abir.epa@gmail.com

02/05/2010

Rb¥ †_‡KB Ae‡njvi ïiæ| Rxebfi eÂbv| Rxe‡bi †kl KqUv w`b‡KI †invB †`qbv wbg©g cÖK…wZ|

PHOTO: MUBASHAR HASAN

Neglected at birth, persecuted through life, abandoned in old age, nature seems to have robbed this man even of the proverbial last straw

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19

was doing a photo assignment for and started cultivating shrimp instead of Oxfam GB with its Oxford based farming crops. It was mere a shift in business Iresearcher and filmmaker Sandhya Suri for them. But for others who do not have a

at Gabura area in Satkhira district of piece of land, the shrimp business just Bangladesh. The plan was to make an worsened their sufferings.interactive documentary on the effects of People of Satkhira saw raindrops after eight climate change with videos and photo- months that year. It seemed quite relieving graphs. We started our work on May 13, 2009 though the rains could not clam the area that after visiting Gabura Village, one of the got almost charred by the scorching heat left villages in the country severely affected by by the sun for eight months. But people got changing climate. some water at least to drink during the rains. Everything in the village was fine before. Also they did not miss any chance to store Despite the crisis of drinking water, poor rainwater-- as much as possible. They were harvests, increase in salinity and drought ecstatic and celebrating rain. I heard a little villagers’ condition was not that miserable girl was singing in the rian. Only if they knew until cyclone Aila hit the area. that a powerful cyclone was following the During a trip to the village before the devas- rain!!tating storm, we saw people of different ages After working on several cases, i.e landless and sexes, women in particular, catching farmers, shrimp farming, attacks by tigers on shrimp fry in the nearby river. The fry are villagers and documenting the visuals of sold to the shrimp cultivators. The poor environmental degradation, we came back villagers were quite happy with the river to Dhaka on May 24,2009. Nobody could since there were hardly any other jobs there have even imagined an impending disaster other than working in shrimp field although the very next day. I heard about a cyclone the history of shrimp farming is new. warning from a friend in Satkhira but did not We met a guy called Abdul Aziz in pay much attention to it and thought it was a Lakkhikhali Village who was weeding at a false alarm.field that was previously used for growing The next day, I was taking rest at home when crops. But the increasing salinity in under- the news of cyclone Aila striking Satkhira ground water left the field completely came to me at about 11:00am. I heard that unfertile, 32-year-old Aziz said. It is the Gabura village was hit hard by the cyclone. global warming that resulted in the increase Following few minutes I received a phone in salinity in water. Many took it as blessings call from Sandhya Suri and got ready to go

ABIR ABDULLAH

Testimony ofa witness tothe Aila havoc

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year

back to Satkhira. We packed up and started and dear ones.our journey around 2:00pm. Within few There were several thousand hungry and hours, we reached Aricha ferry station but exhausted people on the embankment. They we had to change our route as no ferry was were not thinking about when they would departing from the station because of rough return home. They were rather worried weather. We had to have a detour and about the swelling water that might even reached Gabura the next morning. worsen the situation and force them to move It was the embankment in the village that further. The sky was gloomy and smell of attracted our attention at first. There was a dead bodies of human and cattle made the major breach in it and water was flowing atmosphere miserable. People were horri-over and through the embankment sub- fied. The army was supplying food and water merging the entire village and forcing but it was far less than enough.residents to run for shelters with their However I was on duty and started to capture belongings on the broken embankemnt. I photos for European Pressphoto Agency. saw many villagers still trying to collect Meanwhile panicked people were moving essentials from their houses that submerged around to carve out a place to spend the in the water. I also saw many others were night safe, as it was getting dark. At that point cooking food under open sky. I heard kids one of victims turned to me and started were crying in fear and in hunger. It was asking me where they would go now. “We’ve surreal to me cause I was there couple of lost everything. There is nothing to eat or days ago when everything was calm and drink,” he said.quiet. I waded barefoot about five kilome- I did not have any answer for him. I turned ters in knee-high water and reached a dry dumb thinking the condition of these place where 13 dead bodies were kept. Of the people. I justify my position to me by think-dead, eight were children and the rest were ing what could I really do for them while I women. It was nerve braking. I was the first was on duty? I am a photojournalist. photojournalist to reach that place and Through my photographs I let the world photograph the relatives of the deceased know about the tragedies of Aila affected who were lamenting sitting around the people. Photographs speak for themselves. bodies. Some were browsing through the The appeal of photographs galvanizes the dead bodies to identify their missing near government, non-government organiza-

tions and other humanitarian bodies to come up with help. I have done everything I possibly could with my camera to help these people. However, now I become frustrated when I see thousands of survivors are still suffering almost a year after Aila. They need urgent help to go back to their homes; it is their right as the citizen of the country not to spend as homeless months after months under open sky and they should be compen-sated by the government for living such a miserable life for past one year.

Abir Abdullah, Photojournalist

European Press-photo Agency (EPA)

Bangladesh Bureau

he can be reached at abir.epa@gmail.com

02/05/2010

Rb¥ †_‡KB Ae‡njvi ïiæ| Rxebfi eÂbv| Rxe‡bi †kl KqUv w`b‡KI †invB †`qbv wbg©g cÖK…wZ|

PHOTO: MUBASHAR HASAN

Neglected at birth, persecuted through life, abandoned in old age, nature seems to have robbed this man even of the proverbial last straw

18

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G‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (&Gwc)

ev

ANDREW BIRAJ

Photo Testimony of the Aila Havoc

“I don’t know when I will be able to move into my own house. The whole village is inundated by salt water. No one is paying attention to us. Our children are dying in hunger. None but only God knows the end of our misery,” 65 years old Hamida Begum weeps, as she chops wood to build a temporary shelter on a river dam. Hamida lost her everything after been displaced by a huge tidal wave caused by cyclone Aila.

“I’ve lost everything in the storm. My younger son is still missing. I didn’t even eat anything in last two days. Can you please help us at least providing some drinking water?” Amena Begum stands in front of her temporary shelter on broken embankment in Gabura Shatkhira, Bangladesh, after being displaced by a huge tidal surge during the time of cyclone Aila.

Andrew Biraj is a Thomson Reuters Photographer , 16/05/2010

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 2120

cjvqbci AvwgRyjnvm Avjg

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G‡mvwm‡q‡UW †cÖm (&Gwc)

ev

ANDREW BIRAJ

Photo Testimony of the Aila Havoc

“I don’t know when I will be able to move into my own house. The whole village is inundated by salt water. No one is paying attention to us. Our children are dying in hunger. None but only God knows the end of our misery,” 65 years old Hamida Begum weeps, as she chops wood to build a temporary shelter on a river dam. Hamida lost her everything after been displaced by a huge tidal wave caused by cyclone Aila.

“I’ve lost everything in the storm. My younger son is still missing. I didn’t even eat anything in last two days. Can you please help us at least providing some drinking water?” Amena Begum stands in front of her temporary shelter on broken embankment in Gabura Shatkhira, Bangladesh, after being displaced by a huge tidal surge during the time of cyclone Aila.

Andrew Biraj is a Thomson Reuters Photographer , 16/05/2010

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 2120

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GK. eySj wK bv †mUv Avi Rvbv n‡jv bv| †m Avi ̀ uvwo‡q _vK‡Z cvi‡Q bv| nvRvi †nvK, eqm †Zv AíB, bv? †cQ‡bB AvKv‡ki †gRvRUv †ek Lvivc| wKQzÿY ciciB wic‡bi evev| mvsevw`‡Ki †KŠZ~nj †gUv‡Z wb‡Ri gv_vi GmGjAvi K¨v‡givi kw³kvjx d¬¨vk jvB‡Ui g‡Zv Sj‡K fiv KjmUv bvwg‡q `uvov‡jb Avjx AveŸvm| Rvbv‡jb, DV‡Q| †hb gvbyl¸‡jv‡K Pg‡K w`‡Z Pvq| Pviw`‡K †kuv †kuv AvBjvi ci GLv‡b Lvevi cvwbi `viæY mgm¨v Pj‡Q| AvIqvR| mvZÿxivi mgy`ªcv‡oi gvbyl¸‡jvi R‡b¨ GUv †hLv‡bB bjK~c emv‡bv nq, †bvbvcvwb I‡V| GKgvÎ †gv‡UI bZzb wKQz bq| Zv‡`i eyS‡Z Kó n‡jv bv †h, So wgVvcvwbi Avavi GB cyKziwU| GwUB GLb m¤^j n‡q Av‡Q, Avm‡Q| ZLbI nv‡Z _vKv KvR¸‡jv †m‡i wbw”Q‡jb iv‡eqv AvBjv ÿwZMÖ¯Í nvRv‡iv gvby‡li|LvZzb| wKš‘ nVvrB †hb Zuv‡K agK w`‡q DVj cÖK…wZ|

KiwQm Kx, G-†Zv mvaviY So bv| mvB‡K¬vb, AvBjv! wKQz Mí `y‡Uv wbQK bq| ev¯Íe NUbvB| AvBjvq ÿwZi wkKvi †f‡e A_ev bv †f‡eB iv‡eqv LvZzb Zrci n‡q DV‡jb| gvbyl‡`i wb‡q cÖwZ‡e`b ˆZwi Ki‡Z wM‡q G Mí¸‡jv msmv‡ii evwK‡`i ̀ vwqZ¡ eo †Q‡ji (17 eQ‡ii) nv‡Z Zz‡j cvIqv †M‡Q| GKRb Abyf~wZcÖeY mvsevw`‡Ki Wv‡qwii w`‡q wb‡R wb‡jb ¯^vgxi `vwqZ¡| ¯^vgx c¨vivjvBRW| `y‡Uv cvZvi wKQz Ask| GB cÖwZ‡e`‡Ki w`bcwÄi AviIiv‡eqvi g‡b n‡jv, Gev‡ii SoUv GKUz ̀ ªæZB Zuv‡`i evwoi

`y‡Uv cvZvq hv †jLv wQj Zv GB iKg: w`‡K †`Š‡o Avm‡Q| Av‡M GgbUv KLbI †`‡Lbwb wZwb|mKvj 8Uv| D¾¡j AvKvk| GKUz †ewkB D¾¡j| †ek Mig nv‡Z mgq †bB| c¨vivjvBRW ¯^vgx‡K cwjw_‡b gy‡o co‡Z ïiæ K‡i‡Q| wKš‘ mgqUv Lvivc hv‡”Q bv| Mvwo‡Z wb‡R‡`i †bŠKvi cvUvZ‡b †d‡j ivL‡jb| Gici ZvcvbyK~j e¨e¯’v mPj Av‡Q| wKš‘ Mvwo †_‡K bvg‡ZB †bŠKvUv‡K Mv‡Qi m‡½ k³ K‡i euva‡jb| Zvici wb‡Riv MigUv Kvg‡o ai‡jv| k¨vgbMi †bŠKvNv‡U †cuŠQz‡ZB QzU‡jb wbivc` Avkª‡q| c¨vivjvBRW ̄ ^vgx‡K Uvbv‡nuPov bv ci‡bi Rvgv wf‡R GKvKvi| Rvbv †M‡jv, Bwćbi †bŠKv

mvsevw`‡Ki w`bwjwc‡ZÔAvBjv KóÕ!

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fvov n‡q †M‡Q mvsevw`K‡`i R‡b¨| mvg‡b GK nvUz Kv`v| ILv‡b ev”Pviv co‡Z Avm‡e †Uwjwfkb mvsevw`‡Ki Avevi bvbvb Kmir| †Kv_vq hv‡”Q, Kxfv‡e? Rvbv †M‡jv, eQ‡ii GKUv wbw`©ó mgq ¯‹zjwU eÜ Kxfv‡e hv‡”Q| †h‡Z Kó n‡”Q wK-bv, †Kgb Sv‡gjv _v‡K| Kvj‡ev‡kwLi mgq| So G‡j †Zv K_vB †bB| †mB †cvnv‡Z n‡q‡QÑ G¸‡jv wP‡Î aviY Kiv _vK‡j gvbyl †ek ¯‹z‡ji wkÿv_©x wmZviv (Avmj bvgUv †jLv n‡jv bv)| †m hv Lvq! GgbB Ki‡Z n‡jv| K¨v‡givg¨vb evi-`y‡qK ÔKvUÕ ej‡jv Zvi mviK_v n‡jv: ̄ ‹z‡j wVK g‡Zv cov‡jLv nq bv| ejvq, wZbevi wmuwo w`‡q †bŠKvq IVvi Kmir| wkÿK Av‡mb bv wVK g‡Zv| Avm‡eb Kxfv‡e? wkÿK †Zv k¨vgbMi NvU †_‡K †bŠKv K‡i cvwo w`‡Z n‡e †Lvj‡cUzqv _v‡Kb IB cv‡i (b`xi Icv‡i, kn‡i)| †mLvb †_‡K b`x| †bŠKv Pj‡Q cwðg w`‡K gyL K‡i| D‡ëv w`‡K ZLb cÖwZw`b Avmv †Zv GKUz KwVbB, bvwK? Avevi G-I wVK, m~h© ixwZg‡Zv †PvL ivOv‡bv Ae¯’vq| Mv‡qi kvU© Nv‡g wf‡R wkÿK ̄ ‹z‡j G‡jI me wkÿv_x©i †`Lv †g‡j bv| †`Lv wgj‡e GKvKvi| wKš‘ mvsevw`‡Ki †h wb¯Ívi †bB| msev` msMÖnB Kxfv‡e? I‡`i KvR Av‡Q bv| gvQ aiv, cyKzi †_‡K cvwb Zvi KvR| K¨v‡givg¨vb ̀ yÕPvi‡U Ôc¨vb kUÕ (GK cvk †_‡K †bqv, GKUz eo n‡jB my›`ie‡b wM‡q gay msMÖn Kiv; KZ Av‡iK cvk Nyiv‡bv) †bIqvi Kmir Ki‡Q| gv‡S GKUv KvR! GjvKvi wkïiv ZvB †ewkifvMB _vK‡Q Ôc~Y©v½ †d«‡g aiv n‡jv cÖwZ‡e`‡Ki Nv‡g †fRv kv‡U©i QweI| wkÿvÕi evB‡i| Gi †fZi †_‡KB `yÕGKRb n‡q‡Qb msev`wPÎUv cy‡iv ̀ uvwo‡q †M‡jv| mvsevw`‡Ki ̄ ^w¯Í! Zvwbqvi g‡Zv GbwRIKgx©, Zv‡`i †jLvcovi †`Šo Avav NÈvi †bŠKv mdi †k‡lB †`Lv n‡qwQ‡jv iv‡eqv gva¨wgK ch©šÍ|LvZz‡bi m‡½| Zvi m‡½ Av‡eM fvM K‡i wb‡q mvg‡b Ôhv‡`i `yÕ†ejv LvIqvi cvwb †Rv‡U bv Zv‡`i Avevi G¸‡ZB †`Lv †M‡jv KÕUv ev”Pv Lye gb w`‡q †Lj‡Q| cov‡kvbv!Õ K_vwU Lye mwZ¨| AvBjvq AvµvšÍ nIqvi ci evB‡ii Av¸š‘‡Ki w`‡K Zv‡`i Lye GKUv gb †bB| †_‡K Mveyiv, Avkvïwbi gvbyl¸‡jv wVKg‡Zv cvwbI cvqwb| Av¸š‘Kiv GwM‡q hvq, Iiv Zv‡`i cvËvB †`q bv| MÖvgiÿv euva †f‡O mvM‡ii †bvbv cvwb Xz‡K covq GLb

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†Q‡jwU| `‡k‡Ki GK Kjm cvwb wKb‡Z ¸Y‡Z nq 8 †_‡K 10 - †Zvgv‡`i evwo KB? UvKv| hv‡`i wb‡Ri †bŠKv Avi A‡bK¸‡jv Kjm Av‡Q - IB w`‡K!- nvZ w`‡q †hw`KUvq I †`Lv‡jv †mw`‡K ZvivB ïay †bŠKvq K‡i evwo evwo cvwb w`‡q hvq|

Avm‡j we¯ÍxY© Rjivwk| -cvwb wK‡b †L‡Z n‡e, fvewZI cvwiwb evev| GLb ZvB Avm‡j †Q‡jwU †h MÖvgwU †`Lv‡Z †P‡q‡Q †mwUi bvg Mveyiv| KiwZ n‡”Q|†mLv‡b w`‡bi †h mgqB †cuŠQvb GKUv `„k¨ †Pv‡L co‡e| K_v¸‡jv ejwQ‡jb, bx‡i›`ª wek¦vm| Aí-we¯Íi fzj-ï× my‡cq cvwbi Rb¨ nv‡Z nv‡Z cvÎ wb‡q gvby‡li †QvUvQzwU| Bs‡iwR †gkv‡bv Zuvi K_vq GZUzKz ¯úó n‡jv †h, Gfv‡e nvnvKvi| KÕRb bvix ZLb mœvb Ki‡Qb| K¨v‡giv wK‡b cvwb †L‡Z wZwb ÔBDmW UzÕ bb| bx‡i›`ª evey (Avmj mnKvix‡K Qwe †Zvjvq mveavbx n‡Z e‡j mvg‡b hvIqvi bvg wjL‡j wiwjd †c‡Z Sv‡gjv n‡Z cv‡i, ZvB KwíZ e¨¯ÍZv| †`Lv nq, Bw`ªm Avjxi m‡½| eqm mˇii †KvVvq| bvg) AemicÖvß wkÿK| nvZ cvZ‡Z Zuvi m¤§v‡b †ek wZwb Aek¨ `vwe K‡ib, beŸyB| Kzu‡Rv n‡q Pv‡ji †fZi jv‡M| Zuvi evwoi †eŠ-wS‡qiv nuvUzi Kvco Zz‡j gvQ ai‡e, †_‡K KuvKi evQvq e¨¯Í wQ‡jb Bw`ªm| Rvbv‡jb, ÔG R‡¤§IÕ fve‡ZI cv‡ib bv f`ª‡jvK|wZwb AvBjvi g‡Zv Zzdvb †`‡Lbwb| - GLb Avgvi N‡ii eD-wS‡`i cvwbZ& bvg‡Z n‡”Q|

- evev, GB Lvwb Dci w`qv cvwb DVwQ‡jv (nvZ w`‡q evev, Gi‡P ̀ ytwLi Avi Kx nwZ cv‡i?cvwbi D”PZv †evSv‡jb wZwb)| †KD euvP‡ev bv g‡b ej‡Z ej‡Z bx‡i›`ª eveyi †PvL †_‡K cvwb Si‡Z _v‡K| nBwQ‡jv| †k‡l †`Ljvg Avwg eyBovB evBPv †MwQ| Zuvi Awf‡hvM, hviv ZyqvR (†Zvlv‡gv`) KiwZ cv‡i, nv‡Z-(Bw`ªm weRqxi nvwm nv‡mb)| cvq aiwZ cv‡i, ZvivB wiwjd cv‡”Q, evev| evwKiv cv‡”Q

e„× Bw`ªmB Rvbv‡jb, A‡bK A‡bK GbwRI nIqvq Pvj- bv| BU Bm bU †dqvi| Avcwb Kx e‡jb, wVK ewjwQ?Wv‡ji Afve GKUz KgB Av‡Q| Afve ïay cvwbi| Lvevi Rev‡ei A‡cÿv bv K‡i Avevi ej‡Z _v‡Kb, Avgv‡Mi †Zv cvwbi| eq¯‹ gvbylwUi K‡É wKQzUv ÔAvZ¼Õ| A‡bK UvKv †bB| wKš‘ m¤§vb Av‡Q| evwoi ̀ yÕRb weG (weG

- GB cyKziUv hw` ïKv‡q hvq? cvm)| Avwg Avi Avgvi †QB‡j| †Kv_vI †h wM‡q I PvKwi mwZ¨B ZvB| GKUv gvÎ cyKzi Lvevi cvwbi †RvMvb w`‡”Q Kiwe, ZviI †Zv Dcvq †bB| Zvnwj, evwoi †`Lvïbv Kivi cy‡iv nvRvi cuv‡PK gvby‡li| hw` ïwK‡q hvq? Gi †KvbI †Zv †KD _v‡K bv| DËi AvcvZZ Kv‡iv Rvbv †bB| GgbwK IB MÖvgwU †h _vbvq Zuvi K_vq AšÍZ GUzKz ̄ úó nq, ÎvY weZi‡Y Awbqg K‡i‡Q c‡o‡Q, †mB _vbvi wbe©vnx KZ©viI bv| wKQz ¯’vbxq GbwRI| GB Amnvq gvby‡li cv‡k `uvov‡bvi Ô`ycy‡ii Lvev‡ii mgq n‡q hv‡”QÕ g‡b Kwi‡q w`‡jb, AvnŸvb Rvwb‡q hviv †mwgbvi wm‡¤úvwRqvg dvwU‡q †d‡jb, GbwRIKgx©‡`i †KD| A_P †mw`‡K KviI †Lqvj †bB| ZvivI hw` Awbq‡gi wgwQ‡j †hvM †`b, Zvn‡j †Zv Avi Av‡iKUz mvg‡b nuvU‡ZB GKUv ̄ ‹zj| Zvjv eÜ| n‡ZB n‡e, wKQzB _v‡K bv| Avi †ZgbUv n‡j, GKRb Abyf~wZcÖeY

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Abyf~wZcÖeY nIqv P‡j bv| †h Kvi‡Y mvsevw`K‡`i g‡a¨I †f‡ewQ‡jb GeviI †eu‡P hv‡eb| wKš‘ euv‡Pbwb iv‡eqvi ninv‡gkv cÖkœ I‡V, mvsevw`K †K? Kx Zvi KvR? mvsevw`K ¯^vgx|Kx †KejB GKRb Ôavivfvl¨KviÕ? mvsevw`‡Ki bxwZ‡eva iv‡eqv Avi Zuvi msmv‡ii evwKiv wb‡R‡`i RxebUv wb‡q wb‡q Ggb bvbv K_v Av‡Q, cÖkœ Av‡Q| †hgb aiæb, iv¯Ívq wbivc` Avkª‡q wQ‡jb| Zuviv †eu‡P †M‡Qb| Z‡e Avi wKQz KvD‡K MY‡avjvB †`Iqv n‡”Q| d‡Uvmvsevw`K Zv‡K euvPv‡bv hvqwb| Miæ-evQzi, QvMj, N‡ii Avmeve; wKQzB bv| euvPv‡bvi †Póv bv K‡i Qwe Zzj‡Qb| cÖkœ I‡V mvsevw`K GgbwK w`b Pv‡i‡Ki †h Pvj-Wvj †Zvjv wQj, †m¸‡jvI bv| Zvn‡j Kxfv‡e ÔRvZxi we‡eKÕ nb?- Gme weZK© Aek¨ GLb ZvB iv‡eqv‡`i hy×Kvj Pj‡Q| `yÕ†ejv `yÕgy‡Vv A‡bK cy‡iv‡bv| †L‡qc‡i †eu‡P _vKvi G hy× †hb cÖK…Z hy‡×i †P‡qI KwVb|fvwM¨m, †Zgb mvsevw`KZv GLv‡b Ki‡Z n‡”Q bv| Ki‡Z

`yB.n‡j wb‡R‡K ÔbxwZevb msev`Kgx©Õ wn‡m‡e a‡i ivLv h‡_ó wicb; cy‡iv bvg ej‡Z cv‡i bv| eqm 13| D”PZv 4 dzU K‡ói n‡Zv| AšÍZ wmWi I AvBjv bv‡gi `y‡Uv cÖjq¼ix Bw wZ‡bK| n¨vsjv kixi| gv_vq 30 wjUvi cvwb-fiv N~wY©S‡o ÿwZMÖ¯Í gvby‡li K‡ói K_v Zv‡`i gyL †_‡K gvwUi Kjm| cyKzi †_‡K cvwb Zz‡j evwoi w`‡K hv‡”Q| †kvbvi ci †Zv e‡UB|wR‡Ám K‡i Rvbv †Mj, evwo †cŠuQy‡Z Av‡iv gvBj †`‡oK †jLvi g~j As‡k hvIqvi Av‡M ̀ y‡Uv Mí-nuvU‡Z n‡e| †Kb evev, cyKz‡ii cvwb †Kb? wicb cÖkœUv

GK. eySj wK bv †mUv Avi Rvbv n‡jv bv| †m Avi ̀ uvwo‡q _vK‡Z cvi‡Q bv| nvRvi †nvK, eqm †Zv AíB, bv? †cQ‡bB AvKv‡ki †gRvRUv †ek Lvivc| wKQzÿY ciciB wic‡bi evev| mvsevw`‡Ki †KŠZ~nj †gUv‡Z wb‡Ri gv_vi GmGjAvi K¨v‡givi kw³kvjx d¬¨vk jvB‡Ui g‡Zv Sj‡K fiv KjmUv bvwg‡q `uvov‡jb Avjx AveŸvm| Rvbv‡jb, DV‡Q| †hb gvbyl¸‡jv‡K Pg‡K w`‡Z Pvq| Pviw`‡K †kuv †kuv AvBjvi ci GLv‡b Lvevi cvwbi `viæY mgm¨v Pj‡Q| AvIqvR| mvZÿxivi mgy`ªcv‡oi gvbyl¸‡jvi R‡b¨ GUv †hLv‡bB bjK~c emv‡bv nq, †bvbvcvwb I‡V| GKgvÎ †gv‡UI bZzb wKQz bq| Zv‡`i eyS‡Z Kó n‡jv bv †h, So wgVvcvwbi Avavi GB cyKziwU| GwUB GLb m¤^j n‡q Av‡Q, Avm‡Q| ZLbI nv‡Z _vKv KvR¸‡jv †m‡i wbw”Q‡jb iv‡eqv AvBjv ÿwZMÖ¯Í nvRv‡iv gvby‡li|LvZzb| wKš‘ nVvrB †hb Zuv‡K agK w`‡q DVj cÖK…wZ|

KiwQm Kx, G-†Zv mvaviY So bv| mvB‡K¬vb, AvBjv! wKQz Mí `y‡Uv wbQK bq| ev¯Íe NUbvB| AvBjvq ÿwZi wkKvi †f‡e A_ev bv †f‡eB iv‡eqv LvZzb Zrci n‡q DV‡jb| gvbyl‡`i wb‡q cÖwZ‡e`b ˆZwi Ki‡Z wM‡q G Mí¸‡jv msmv‡ii evwK‡`i ̀ vwqZ¡ eo †Q‡ji (17 eQ‡ii) nv‡Z Zz‡j cvIqv †M‡Q| GKRb Abyf~wZcÖeY mvsevw`‡Ki Wv‡qwii w`‡q wb‡R wb‡jb ¯^vgxi `vwqZ¡| ¯^vgx c¨vivjvBRW| `y‡Uv cvZvi wKQz Ask| GB cÖwZ‡e`‡Ki w`bcwÄi AviIiv‡eqvi g‡b n‡jv, Gev‡ii SoUv GKUz ̀ ªæZB Zuv‡`i evwoi

`y‡Uv cvZvq hv †jLv wQj Zv GB iKg: w`‡K †`Š‡o Avm‡Q| Av‡M GgbUv KLbI †`‡Lbwb wZwb|mKvj 8Uv| D¾¡j AvKvk| GKUz †ewkB D¾¡j| †ek Mig nv‡Z mgq †bB| c¨vivjvBRW ¯^vgx‡K cwjw_‡b gy‡o co‡Z ïiæ K‡i‡Q| wKš‘ mgqUv Lvivc hv‡”Q bv| Mvwo‡Z wb‡R‡`i †bŠKvi cvUvZ‡b †d‡j ivL‡jb| Gici ZvcvbyK~j e¨e¯’v mPj Av‡Q| wKš‘ Mvwo †_‡K bvg‡ZB †bŠKvUv‡K Mv‡Qi m‡½ k³ K‡i euva‡jb| Zvici wb‡Riv MigUv Kvg‡o ai‡jv| k¨vgbMi †bŠKvNv‡U †cuŠQz‡ZB QzU‡jb wbivc` Avkª‡q| c¨vivjvBRW ̄ ^vgx‡K Uvbv‡nuPov bv ci‡bi Rvgv wf‡R GKvKvi| Rvbv †M‡jv, Bwćbi †bŠKv

mvsevw`‡Ki w`bwjwc‡ZÔAvBjv KóÕ!

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- evev, †Zvgvi bvg Kx? Mfxi bjK~‡ci cvwb‡ZI jeY, †bvbv ̄ ^v`| IB †jvK¸‡jvi - AvKvk|- Rv¤^yivi e‡j jvw_ w`‡Z w`‡Z e‡j GLb cyKz‡ii cvwbI wjUvi `‡i wK‡b wb‡Z nq| wjUvi

†Q‡jwU| `‡k‡Ki GK Kjm cvwb wKb‡Z ¸Y‡Z nq 8 †_‡K 10 - †Zvgv‡`i evwo KB? UvKv| hv‡`i wb‡Ri †bŠKv Avi A‡bK¸‡jv Kjm Av‡Q - IB w`‡K!- nvZ w`‡q †hw`KUvq I †`Lv‡jv †mw`‡K ZvivB ïay †bŠKvq K‡i evwo evwo cvwb w`‡q hvq|

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- evev, GB Lvwb Dci w`qv cvwb DVwQ‡jv (nvZ w`‡q evev, Gi‡P ̀ ytwLi Avi Kx nwZ cv‡i?cvwbi D”PZv †evSv‡jb wZwb)| †KD euvP‡ev bv g‡b ej‡Z ej‡Z bx‡i›`ª eveyi †PvL †_‡K cvwb Si‡Z _v‡K| nBwQ‡jv| †k‡l †`Ljvg Avwg eyBovB evBPv †MwQ| Zuvi Awf‡hvM, hviv ZyqvR (†Zvlv‡gv`) KiwZ cv‡i, nv‡Z-(Bw`ªm weRqxi nvwm nv‡mb)| cvq aiwZ cv‡i, ZvivB wiwjd cv‡”Q, evev| evwKiv cv‡”Q

e„× Bw`ªmB Rvbv‡jb, A‡bK A‡bK GbwRI nIqvq Pvj- bv| BU Bm bU †dqvi| Avcwb Kx e‡jb, wVK ewjwQ?Wv‡ji Afve GKUz KgB Av‡Q| Afve ïay cvwbi| Lvevi Rev‡ei A‡cÿv bv K‡i Avevi ej‡Z _v‡Kb, Avgv‡Mi †Zv cvwbi| eq¯‹ gvbylwUi K‡É wKQzUv ÔAvZ¼Õ| A‡bK UvKv †bB| wKš‘ m¤§vb Av‡Q| evwoi ̀ yÕRb weG (weG

- GB cyKziUv hw` ïKv‡q hvq? cvm)| Avwg Avi Avgvi †QB‡j| †Kv_vI †h wM‡q I PvKwi mwZ¨B ZvB| GKUv gvÎ cyKzi Lvevi cvwbi †RvMvb w`‡”Q Kiwe, ZviI †Zv Dcvq †bB| Zvnwj, evwoi †`Lvïbv Kivi cy‡iv nvRvi cuv‡PK gvby‡li| hw` ïwK‡q hvq? Gi †KvbI †Zv †KD _v‡K bv| DËi AvcvZZ Kv‡iv Rvbv †bB| GgbwK IB MÖvgwU †h _vbvq Zuvi K_vq AšÍZ GUzKz ̄ úó nq, ÎvY weZi‡Y Awbqg K‡i‡Q c‡o‡Q, †mB _vbvi wbe©vnx KZ©viI bv| wKQz ¯’vbxq GbwRI| GB Amnvq gvby‡li cv‡k `uvov‡bvi Ô`ycy‡ii Lvev‡ii mgq n‡q hv‡”QÕ g‡b Kwi‡q w`‡jb, AvnŸvb Rvwb‡q hviv †mwgbvi wm‡¤úvwRqvg dvwU‡q †d‡jb, GbwRIKgx©‡`i †KD| A_P †mw`‡K KviI †Lqvj †bB| ZvivI hw` Awbq‡gi wgwQ‡j †hvM †`b, Zvn‡j †Zv Avi Av‡iKUz mvg‡b nuvU‡ZB GKUv ̄ ‹zj| Zvjv eÜ| n‡ZB n‡e, wKQzB _v‡K bv| Avi †ZgbUv n‡j, GKRb Abyf~wZcÖeY

22

mvsevw`‡KiI gb Ly‡j mgv‡jvPbvi weKí _v‡K Kx? mvsevw`K eywS Avi _vKv †M‡jv bv| Abyf~wZcÖeY n‡ZB Lvevi R‡ji msK‡Ui welqwU †g‡b †bb cÖkvm‡bi n‡jv| euv‡ai Ici Avkªq †bqv IB gvbylwUi †PvL ZLb nZ©vKZ©vivI| wKš‘ GB e¨vcv‡i Zv‡`i KiYxq Rvb‡Z we¯ÍxY© b`xi w`‡K| g‡b n‡jv †jvKUv ej‡Z PvB‡Qb, PvB‡jB AgvwqK GKUv nvwmi †`Lv cvIqv hvq Zv‡`i gy‡L| †`‡Lb, Pviw`‡K ˆ_ ˆ_ cvwb| A_P gy‡L †`Iqvi Dcvq Zv‡`i bvwK wKQzB Kivi †bB! f`ª‡jvK‡`i GB ÔAgvwqK †bB| nvwmÕ KZUv wb®‹jyl, †mUv KvD‡K e‡j w`‡Z nq bv| IB - cïcwÿI _vKevi RvqMv Lyu‡R cv‡”Q bv| cvwe _vbvi wbe©vnx KZ©vi K_vB aiæb| wZwb †Zv e‡jB †dj‡jb, Kxfv‡e evev, MvQ-MvQov _vKwZ n‡e †Zv!Avgv‡`i Avm‡j Gi‡P‡q †ewk wKQz Kivi †bB| cÖkœ n‡jv, †evSv †M‡jv, Rxe‰ewPΨ bó nIqvi K_vB wb‡Ri g‡Zv K‡i Kx‡mi †P‡q †ewk wKQz? KZUv K‡i‡Qb Zviv? ej‡Z PvB‡Qb wZwb| g‡b c‡o †M‡jv, Zuvi GB K_v¸‡jv †ejv Mov‡”Q| m~h©UvI †ZR nviv‡”Q| wKš‘ msev`Kgx©‡`i †Zv we‡klÁivI e‡jb, Z‡e GKUz ̧ wQ‡q, wfbœfv‡e|Kv‡Q †c‡q gvby‡li K_vi †ZR †hb evo‡Q| K‡ói K_v AvBjvi K_v ¯§iY Ki‡Z ejvq Avn¤§`‡K †ek D`vm ej‡Z wM‡q GKUz Av‡M whwb †Pv‡Li cvwb †d‡j‡Qb †mB †`Lv‡jv| 25 †g 2009, ZvwiLUv wZwb fz‡jbwb| ej‡jb, bx‡i›`ª evey Gevi cÖwZev`x n‡q DV‡jb| wK”Qz eyBSv DVvi Av‡MB me DB‡o †M‡jv| mvZÿxivq

- evev, Avgvi fvwZR¨v PB‡j †M‡Q MÖvg QvB‡o| GKUv bvMwiK mgvR Av‡Q, hviv wKwÂr cÖwZev`x| gv‡S-BwÛqv| gv‡S cø¨vKvW© nv‡Z `uvwo‡q hvb| gš¿xiv †M‡j Zv‡`i m‡½

- †Kb? D”P¯^‡i K_v ejvi †Póv K‡ib| Avn¤§` Zv‡`iB GKRb| - Kx Kiwe? c¨v‡U fvZ _vKv jvMwe †Zv! B`vwbs Zviv †ek †mv”Pvi; ZvivB ej‡Qb cvwbm¤ú`, K…wl,

bx‡i›`ª wek¦vm Rvbv‡jb, GjvKvi A‡b‡KB GLb †c‡Ui eb I cwi‡ek, Lv`¨ I ̀ y‡h©vM Avi ̄ ’vbxq miKvi gš¿Yvj‡qi `v‡q wf‡UgvwU Qvo‡Qb| †eŠ-ev”Pv IB euv‡ai Ic‡ii A¯’vqx g‡a¨ bvwK mgš^q †bB| G e¨vcv‡i IB GjvKvi A‡b‡KiB N‡i †i‡L cyiæliv P‡j hv‡”Qb Kv‡Ri †Luv‡R| †Kv_vq cÖkœ, fvB IUv K‡e wQ‡jv? †jvK¸‡jv Rvbv‡jb, 2010 Gi hv‡”Qb?- Rvb‡Z PvB‡j bx‡i›`ª evey Rvbvb; gv‡P©i g‡a¨B bvwK euva ˆZwii KvR †kl nIqvi cÖwZkÖæwZ

- Ky_vq Avi, †KD XvKvq, †KD PÆMÖvg, †KD Lyjbv, wQ‡jv miKv‡ii| †mwU †h nqwb, Zv †Zv †`LvB hvq| wKš‘ †KD mvZÿxivi g~j UvD‡b| Avi hv‡`i K‡e n‡e, Zv-I ej‡Z cv‡i cvwb Dbœqb †evW©| hw` bv cv‡i, AvZ¥xq¯^Rb Av‡Q Zviv fvi‡Z cvwi w`‡”Qb| Zvn‡j gvbyl‡fvjv‡bv GB Kvwnbx Avi KZw`b Pj‡e?

Zvi gv‡b, GbwRI¸‡jvi †`Iqv Z_¨¸‡jv wVK? evsjv‡`k cvwb Dbœqb †ev‡W©i DbœvwmKZv me wKQz‡K nvi gvwb‡q‡Q| †_‡K gvB‡MÖkb n‡”Q? hv‡`i ÔK¬vB‡gU wiwdDwRÕ bvg euva †givgZ bv nIqvi e¨vcv‡i Zv‡`i †KvbI DËi †bB| †`Iqvq †ek weZK© D‡VwQ‡jv †`kRy‡o| G e¨vcv‡i Lye Z‡e wKQz ARynvZ ˆZwi Av‡Q| ¯’vbxq m‡PZb mgvR Aek¨ fv‡jv K‡i †LuvR wb‡Z n‡jv| Ae‡k‡l cvIqv †M‡jv Ggb ARynvZ‡K †`L‡Qb ÔAvBjv evwYR¨Õ wn‡m‡e| Kxfv‡e? †m GKRb‡K hvi PvPv‡Zv fvB cvwo Rwg‡q‡Q fvi‡Zi A‡bK K_v! ïb‡Z cvIqv hvq, cvwb Dbœqb †ev‡W©i m‡½ ebMuvI‡q| mwZ¨ wK? bvwK wVKv`vi‡`i ReŸi `nig-gnig| ZvivB bvwK †KvbI

- mwZ¨ gv‡b| Aewk¨B mwZ¨| Avgvi fvB †Kb, wKQzi wewbg‡q ivk †U‡b †i‡L‡Q cvwb Dbœqb †ev‡W©i Dbœqb BiKg A‡b‡KB wM‡q‡Q| wVK g‡Zv Lvevi LvwZ ZrciZvi! Avi Zv‡`i IB Ô†KvbI wKQzÕi Kvi‡YB cvwb nwj, GbwRIAvjv‡`i Kv‡Q nvZ cvZwZ nq| Kvg Dbœqb †evW©I Ôfzwj‡q-fvwj‡qÕ ivLvi †Póv Ki‡Q nZfvM¨ (KvR) †bB| Kx Kiwe e‡jb? AvwgI †Zv PB‡j gvbyl¸‡jv‡K| Zv‡`i m‡½ bvwK Avevi gnviw_ wPswo hvIqvi K_vB fvewZwQ| PvwlivI ÔwN-G cvwb XvjvÕi `vwqZ¡ †c‡q‡Qb| Xvj‡QbI|

bx‡i›`ª evey‡K Lye Amnvq g‡b n‡jv| †PvLgy‡L Kv‡jv Qvc| ïb‡Z cvIqv †M‡jv, IB wN-B bvwK, me b‡ói g~j| Zvi gyL ïwK‡q †M‡Q| nq‡Zv wb‡Ri wf‡U †Q‡o Av‡iK †`‡k IciI †Zv KZ©„cÿ Av‡Q, KZ©ve¨w³iv Av‡Qb, Avgv‡`i †h‡Z Pvb bv wZwb| †bZviv Av‡Qb, Avcbviv GKUz ZvKvb bv †mw`‡K! GB †QvÆ bx‡i›`ª evey hv ej‡jb Zvi †gvÏv AskUzKz n‡jv, IB GjvKvi GKUv †`‡k G‡Zv¸‡jv gvbyl GZw`b a‡i Kx hš¿YvqB bv gvby‡li Lvev‡ii msK‡Ui †P‡q weï× I my‡cq cvwbi Av‡Q! mgm¨vUvB cÖKU n‡q †`Lv w`‡q‡Q| mvZÿxivi k¨vgbMi Avi Avkvïwb Dc‡Rjvi †ek wKQz As‡ki gvwUI jeY-cvwbi Avµg‡Yi wkKvi| cvš’ ingvb, wmwbqi ÷vd K‡imc‡Û›U

- Avgvi evwo‡Z 11 Lvb Avg MvQ wQ‡jv, bvBi‡Kj P¨v‡bj AvB MvQ †Zv g¨vjv| Ab¨ d‡ji MvQI wQ‡jv| Gnb wK”Qz 05/05/2010†bB|

bx‡i›`ª evey Avi K_v ej‡Z cv‡ib bv| Zuvi Mjv a‡i G‡m‡Q|

24

hen Oxfam’s Mubashar Hasan Satkhira. She was telling me, "You will not requested me to give a testimony realise how it feels when your children cry for Won the impact of cyclone Aila, I food and you have nothing to feed them."

was in a real difficulty because I could not She was among thousands who had to come think of a proper introduction. It's not that upon the embankment with children since the issue is complicated but because it has tidal surge broke through coastal embank-too many dimensions. ment during the cyclone.Whenever I think of Aila affected people, I Five months later, when I revisited the see images of hopeless faces, extreme affected upazilas in Shyamnagar, I found the adversities, pain of losing near and dear situation even worse than the past as the ones, hunger, crisis of water, struggles people were still living on the embankments against the cruel nature and the people with no work to feed the families.looking at a bleak future. Each of these By contrast, the government initially came phenomena deserves to form an introduc- up with food and other modes of assistance tion of this writing. and continued to provide assistance for a Until now, I visited the Aila-hit coastal few months right after the cyclone. But it was districts of Satkhira and Khulna three times. I not enough for them. Also, in my opinion, personally am moved by the sufferings of media initially did not give due importance people in that area. In fact the nature of their to it and those sufferers slipped out of sufferings in past one year is inexplicable. It spotlight. On the other hand, the interna-is like people are sinking deep into darkness tional donor agencies did not come up with day by day with virtually nothing left to live. what they pledged before.My first visit to Satkhira was soon after the Unfortunately almost a year passed and still cyclone that ripped through the area and many people are living on the embankment created havoc in people's life in May last under the open sky in three unions -- year. People were scrambling for food and Gabura, Dacope and Koyra. They are living a drinking water. It has been a year since the miserable life with lack of proper food and storm hit but I still cannot forget the few water or sanitation facilities, amid scorching sentences of an aged woman of Gabura heat. Moreover, lack of work became a crude union under Shyamnagar Upazila in reality. Many people left the area for safer

WASIM BIN HABIB

The nexus of natureand corruption producesendless miseriesin a storm-hit land

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 25

mvsevw`‡KiI gb Ly‡j mgv‡jvPbvi weKí _v‡K Kx? mvsevw`K eywS Avi _vKv †M‡jv bv| Abyf~wZcÖeY n‡ZB Lvevi R‡ji msK‡Ui welqwU †g‡b †bb cÖkvm‡bi n‡jv| euv‡ai Ici Avkªq †bqv IB gvbylwUi †PvL ZLb nZ©vKZ©vivI| wKš‘ GB e¨vcv‡i Zv‡`i KiYxq Rvb‡Z we¯ÍxY© b`xi w`‡K| g‡b n‡jv †jvKUv ej‡Z PvB‡Qb, PvB‡jB AgvwqK GKUv nvwmi †`Lv cvIqv hvq Zv‡`i gy‡L| †`‡Lb, Pviw`‡K ˆ_ ˆ_ cvwb| A_P gy‡L †`Iqvi Dcvq Zv‡`i bvwK wKQzB Kivi †bB! f`ª‡jvK‡`i GB ÔAgvwqK †bB| nvwmÕ KZUv wb®‹jyl, †mUv KvD‡K e‡j w`‡Z nq bv| IB - cïcwÿI _vKevi RvqMv Lyu‡R cv‡”Q bv| cvwe _vbvi wbe©vnx KZ©vi K_vB aiæb| wZwb †Zv e‡jB †dj‡jb, Kxfv‡e evev, MvQ-MvQov _vKwZ n‡e †Zv!Avgv‡`i Avm‡j Gi‡P‡q †ewk wKQz Kivi †bB| cÖkœ n‡jv, †evSv †M‡jv, Rxe‰ewPΨ bó nIqvi K_vB wb‡Ri g‡Zv K‡i Kx‡mi †P‡q †ewk wKQz? KZUv K‡i‡Qb Zviv? ej‡Z PvB‡Qb wZwb| g‡b c‡o †M‡jv, Zuvi GB K_v¸‡jv †ejv Mov‡”Q| m~h©UvI †ZR nviv‡”Q| wKš‘ msev`Kgx©‡`i †Zv we‡klÁivI e‡jb, Z‡e GKUz ̧ wQ‡q, wfbœfv‡e|Kv‡Q †c‡q gvby‡li K_vi †ZR †hb evo‡Q| K‡ói K_v AvBjvi K_v ¯§iY Ki‡Z ejvq Avn¤§`‡K †ek D`vm ej‡Z wM‡q GKUz Av‡M whwb †Pv‡Li cvwb †d‡j‡Qb †mB †`Lv‡jv| 25 †g 2009, ZvwiLUv wZwb fz‡jbwb| ej‡jb, bx‡i›`ª evey Gevi cÖwZev`x n‡q DV‡jb| wK”Qz eyBSv DVvi Av‡MB me DB‡o †M‡jv| mvZÿxivq

- evev, Avgvi fvwZR¨v PB‡j †M‡Q MÖvg QvB‡o| GKUv bvMwiK mgvR Av‡Q, hviv wKwÂr cÖwZev`x| gv‡S-BwÛqv| gv‡S cø¨vKvW© nv‡Z `uvwo‡q hvb| gš¿xiv †M‡j Zv‡`i m‡½

- †Kb? D”P¯^‡i K_v ejvi †Póv K‡ib| Avn¤§` Zv‡`iB GKRb| - Kx Kiwe? c¨v‡U fvZ _vKv jvMwe †Zv! B`vwbs Zviv †ek †mv”Pvi; ZvivB ej‡Qb cvwbm¤ú`, K…wl,

bx‡i›`ª wek¦vm Rvbv‡jb, GjvKvi A‡b‡KB GLb †c‡Ui eb I cwi‡ek, Lv`¨ I ̀ y‡h©vM Avi ̄ ’vbxq miKvi gš¿Yvj‡qi `v‡q wf‡UgvwU Qvo‡Qb| †eŠ-ev”Pv IB euv‡ai Ic‡ii A¯’vqx g‡a¨ bvwK mgš^q †bB| G e¨vcv‡i IB GjvKvi A‡b‡KiB N‡i †i‡L cyiæliv P‡j hv‡”Qb Kv‡Ri †Luv‡R| †Kv_vq cÖkœ, fvB IUv K‡e wQ‡jv? †jvK¸‡jv Rvbv‡jb, 2010 Gi hv‡”Qb?- Rvb‡Z PvB‡j bx‡i›`ª evey Rvbvb; gv‡P©i g‡a¨B bvwK euva ˆZwii KvR †kl nIqvi cÖwZkÖæwZ

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bx‡i›`ª evey Avi K_v ej‡Z cv‡ib bv| Zuvi Mjv a‡i G‡m‡Q|

24

hen Oxfam’s Mubashar Hasan Satkhira. She was telling me, "You will not requested me to give a testimony realise how it feels when your children cry for Won the impact of cyclone Aila, I food and you have nothing to feed them."

was in a real difficulty because I could not She was among thousands who had to come think of a proper introduction. It's not that upon the embankment with children since the issue is complicated but because it has tidal surge broke through coastal embank-too many dimensions. ment during the cyclone.Whenever I think of Aila affected people, I Five months later, when I revisited the see images of hopeless faces, extreme affected upazilas in Shyamnagar, I found the adversities, pain of losing near and dear situation even worse than the past as the ones, hunger, crisis of water, struggles people were still living on the embankments against the cruel nature and the people with no work to feed the families.looking at a bleak future. Each of these By contrast, the government initially came phenomena deserves to form an introduc- up with food and other modes of assistance tion of this writing. and continued to provide assistance for a Until now, I visited the Aila-hit coastal few months right after the cyclone. But it was districts of Satkhira and Khulna three times. I not enough for them. Also, in my opinion, personally am moved by the sufferings of media initially did not give due importance people in that area. In fact the nature of their to it and those sufferers slipped out of sufferings in past one year is inexplicable. It spotlight. On the other hand, the interna-is like people are sinking deep into darkness tional donor agencies did not come up with day by day with virtually nothing left to live. what they pledged before.My first visit to Satkhira was soon after the Unfortunately almost a year passed and still cyclone that ripped through the area and many people are living on the embankment created havoc in people's life in May last under the open sky in three unions -- year. People were scrambling for food and Gabura, Dacope and Koyra. They are living a drinking water. It has been a year since the miserable life with lack of proper food and storm hit but I still cannot forget the few water or sanitation facilities, amid scorching sentences of an aged woman of Gabura heat. Moreover, lack of work became a crude union under Shyamnagar Upazila in reality. Many people left the area for safer

WASIM BIN HABIB

The nexus of natureand corruption producesendless miseriesin a storm-hit land

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 25

places especially in Satkhira and Khulna towns after failing to bear hardships.

The reconstruction of embankments was in peace forgetting these people who even the main demand put forward by the suffer-haven't got safe water to drink? They are the ers for past twelve months since they wanted citizens of the country and it is the duty of the to return their homes and start their life government to ensure their rights.again. The government with the help of law We want the people to go back to their homes enforcing agencies and locals repaired the and lead decent lives. We want their immedi-embankments but many of the dykes swamp ate rehabilitation and also want that the broken during the gons (new-moon-tide), government to take necessary steps so that inundating the areas anew, destroying their the people would not become refugees once hopes to save their last belongings.again if any cyclone hits the areas in coming I don’t want to go in detail about how such a monsoon.large stretch of the embankments collapsed Finally, we want to see that the government in a day but I found that the negligence of the is taking serious steps to track those corrupt authorities concerned and corruption in the people involved in reconstruction of the repairing work prolonged the woes of the embankments and it is a necessity now to survivors.have a law which will ensure the prompt We all know the destruction wreaked by management of the disaster response work cyclone Sidr. But people of the Sidr-hit areas from responsible government agencies.restarted their lives after few months. But

cyclone Aila, which might not be as strong as Sidr, made the coastal areas a hell on earth. Wasim bin Habib, Staff CorrespondentThe affected people could not return to their The Daily Starhome even after a year.

07/05/2010How do we the so-called civilised people live

26

†Rvqv‡ii cvwbi m‡½ `yb©xwZi wgZvwj, djvdj: `xN©‡gqv`x gvbweK wech©q|

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

The nexus of nature and corruption produces endless miseries.

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places especially in Satkhira and Khulna towns after failing to bear hardships.

The reconstruction of embankments was in peace forgetting these people who even the main demand put forward by the suffer-haven't got safe water to drink? They are the ers for past twelve months since they wanted citizens of the country and it is the duty of the to return their homes and start their life government to ensure their rights.again. The government with the help of law We want the people to go back to their homes enforcing agencies and locals repaired the and lead decent lives. We want their immedi-embankments but many of the dykes swamp ate rehabilitation and also want that the broken during the gons (new-moon-tide), government to take necessary steps so that inundating the areas anew, destroying their the people would not become refugees once hopes to save their last belongings.again if any cyclone hits the areas in coming I don’t want to go in detail about how such a monsoon.large stretch of the embankments collapsed Finally, we want to see that the government in a day but I found that the negligence of the is taking serious steps to track those corrupt authorities concerned and corruption in the people involved in reconstruction of the repairing work prolonged the woes of the embankments and it is a necessity now to survivors.have a law which will ensure the prompt We all know the destruction wreaked by management of the disaster response work cyclone Sidr. But people of the Sidr-hit areas from responsible government agencies.restarted their lives after few months. But

cyclone Aila, which might not be as strong as Sidr, made the coastal areas a hell on earth. Wasim bin Habib, Staff CorrespondentThe affected people could not return to their The Daily Starhome even after a year.

07/05/2010How do we the so-called civilised people live

26

†Rvqv‡ii cvwbi m‡½ `yb©xwZi wgZvwj, djvdj: `xN©‡gqv`x gvbweK wech©q|

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

The nexus of nature and corruption produces endless miseries.

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AvBjv`yM©Z gvby‡li GK eQ‡iiRxeb-hš¿Yv 27

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Szgyi evix, wmwbqi wi‡cvU©viAvgvi Kv‡Q Rvb‡Z †P‡qwQ‡jb- Zuviv gviv †M‡j miKvi wK Avi wUwfKei †`Iqvi RvqMv K‡i †`‡e? bv-wK †Rvqv‡ii cvwb‡Z

fvwm‡q w`‡Z n‡e Zuvi jvk| Avwg †KvbI DËi w`‡Z 01/05/2010

ïK‡bv f~wg A`„k¨cÖvq, †bŠKvq †f‡m mvi‡Z nq M„n¯’vwji KvR|

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

It is like Waterworld, except without the glamour.

28

have covering Aila affected areas regu- tial person, to build it. Villagers blamed the larly for the past one year for New Age. breach of the embankment on substandard IWhenever I visit cyclone hit villages, I find work by the influential man. To no surprise,

everything is broken—people are living on it’s the ruling party people who received the broken embankments with broken hearts in contract for all development works in the broken houses. area. But they are using the problems of the

people to grab contracts and make money. The policymakers were supposed to rebuild everything within this time. But corruption There I met Haripada who was telling me among a section of people prolonged the about the increasing gap between two edges hopelessness and frustration, which culmi- of broken embankment last year. According nated into a sheer crisis of drinking water, to him, “The gap between two edges of broken health and sanitation. embankment protecting the JaliaKhali village

was 20 feet to start with right after Aila now it On 25th May 2009 Aila had swallowed parts of has widened to a 250-feet due to the negli-embankments that were protecting costal gence of the concerned authority.”villages in south-western Bangladesh. It also

forced village people to come upon the He was also frustrated with the lack of drink-broken embankments or nearby highways in ing water. He was holding a jug that turned Dacope, Koyra and Shyamnagar Upazaila. yellow because of the polluted water it

contained. The water was not worth drinking After Aila, many promises were made to at all but there was no other way out for reconstruct embankments but the progress Haripada to quench his thirst. Haripada’s face was very slow. Many people in those villages represents thousands of hopeless people are still living in misery, as embankments living in that area.could not be repaired. Therefore, the swelling

water of the river floods many villages on a The government does not need to conduct a regular basis. mammoth task to bring the smile back to the

face of these people. They just need to ensure Jaliakhali village of Dacope Union in Khulna pure drinking water and reconstruct of the district is among them. It is very difficult to embankment. However, these small tasks reach there since roads damaged during the became mammoth due to the cruel corrupt cyclone are yet to be repaired. Edges of four-nexus of a section of people. A timely decision kilometer road from Kamarkhola to Jaliakhali by the related authorities and the honesty of by the river Dhaki were filled with thatched the people in power could have mitigated houses erected by the people who lost their their sufferings. In future to punish this cruel homes to the mighty storm. corruption, a stringent disaster management The embankment protecting this village was law is urgent.reconstructed in mid-February in 2010 at one

point but high tide of water washed it away in just two days. Tapos Kanti Das, Staff Correspondent, (Khulna)

Locals said a contractor got the contract for The Daily New Agereconstruction of the embankment but he 05/05/2010assigned another sub-contractor, an influen-

TAPOS KANTI DAS

Testimonyof a cruel game

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 29

cÖej †e‡M †jvKvj‡q Xy‡K hvw”Qj, ZLb †KD N‡ii Pvjv, Avevi †KD ivbœvi cvwZjUv m‡½ Avb‡Z †c‡iwQ‡jb| cvwiwb| ïay e‡jwQ, XvKv wM‡q miKv‡ii Dci gn‡j †KDev wZb mšÍv‡bi g‡a¨ cÖej So-†Rvqv‡ii ZvÐe †_‡K Rvbv‡bvi †Póv Kie|iÿv Ki‡Z †c‡iwQ‡jb `yÕRb‡K| Avi GKRb †f‡m

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Avwg †diZ G‡mwQjvg| m~h© †Wvevi Av‡MB b`x cvi n‡q eD‡qi nv‡Z †mvbvi Pzwo| wZb-Pvi evi Ni †f‡O hvIqvq

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†`‡L Avmv gvbyl wb‡q wi‡cv‡U©i K_v!DuPz, ZLb evwK euvaUzKzI P‡j hv‡e| Avi Zuv‡`i gv_v †MuvRvi mvgvb¨ VvuBUzKzI nvwi‡q hv‡e| e„× gvbyl¸‡jvi A‡b‡KB

Szgyi evix, wmwbqi wi‡cvU©viAvgvi Kv‡Q Rvb‡Z †P‡qwQ‡jb- Zuviv gviv †M‡j miKvi wK Avi wUwfKei †`Iqvi RvqMv K‡i †`‡e? bv-wK †Rvqv‡ii cvwb‡Z

fvwm‡q w`‡Z n‡e Zuvi jvk| Avwg †KvbI DËi w`‡Z 01/05/2010

ïK‡bv f~wg A`„k¨cÖvq, †bŠKvq †f‡m mvi‡Z nq M„n¯’vwji KvR|

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

It is like Waterworld, except without the glamour.

28

have covering Aila affected areas regu- tial person, to build it. Villagers blamed the larly for the past one year for New Age. breach of the embankment on substandard IWhenever I visit cyclone hit villages, I find work by the influential man. To no surprise,

everything is broken—people are living on it’s the ruling party people who received the broken embankments with broken hearts in contract for all development works in the broken houses. area. But they are using the problems of the

people to grab contracts and make money. The policymakers were supposed to rebuild everything within this time. But corruption There I met Haripada who was telling me among a section of people prolonged the about the increasing gap between two edges hopelessness and frustration, which culmi- of broken embankment last year. According nated into a sheer crisis of drinking water, to him, “The gap between two edges of broken health and sanitation. embankment protecting the JaliaKhali village

was 20 feet to start with right after Aila now it On 25th May 2009 Aila had swallowed parts of has widened to a 250-feet due to the negli-embankments that were protecting costal gence of the concerned authority.”villages in south-western Bangladesh. It also

forced village people to come upon the He was also frustrated with the lack of drink-broken embankments or nearby highways in ing water. He was holding a jug that turned Dacope, Koyra and Shyamnagar Upazaila. yellow because of the polluted water it

contained. The water was not worth drinking After Aila, many promises were made to at all but there was no other way out for reconstruct embankments but the progress Haripada to quench his thirst. Haripada’s face was very slow. Many people in those villages represents thousands of hopeless people are still living in misery, as embankments living in that area.could not be repaired. Therefore, the swelling

water of the river floods many villages on a The government does not need to conduct a regular basis. mammoth task to bring the smile back to the

face of these people. They just need to ensure Jaliakhali village of Dacope Union in Khulna pure drinking water and reconstruct of the district is among them. It is very difficult to embankment. However, these small tasks reach there since roads damaged during the became mammoth due to the cruel corrupt cyclone are yet to be repaired. Edges of four-nexus of a section of people. A timely decision kilometer road from Kamarkhola to Jaliakhali by the related authorities and the honesty of by the river Dhaki were filled with thatched the people in power could have mitigated houses erected by the people who lost their their sufferings. In future to punish this cruel homes to the mighty storm. corruption, a stringent disaster management The embankment protecting this village was law is urgent.reconstructed in mid-February in 2010 at one

point but high tide of water washed it away in just two days. Tapos Kanti Das, Staff Correspondent, (Khulna)

Locals said a contractor got the contract for The Daily New Agereconstruction of the embankment but he 05/05/2010assigned another sub-contractor, an influen-

TAPOS KANTI DAS

Testimonyof a cruel game

Testimony of Journalists

on swelled sufferings of Aila hit peoplein one year 29

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my‡cq cvwbi cÖavb Drm Gme K~c f‡i †M‡Q †bvbvR‡j|

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

30

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my‡cq cvwbi cÖavb Drm Gme K~c f‡i †M‡Q †bvbvR‡j|

PHOTO: MONEERUL ISLAM

Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

30

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07/05/2010

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PHOTO: MUBASHAR HASAN

Death is a great leveller. So are the flooding waters.

32

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GbwUwfw`‡Z cvij bv †KD; bv GbwRI, bv miKvi| A_P Gme

07/05/2010

euvafvOv †jvbvRj †invB †`qwb KvD‡K, RxweZ wKsev g„Z|

PHOTO: MUBASHAR HASAN

Death is a great leveller. So are the flooding waters.

32

End poverty Together.CSRL