People in the coastal area of Patuakhali have demanded special allocation in the budget for sustainable embankments in the disaster-prone region.
Residents of cyclone-prone areas in Khulna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Noakhali and Chattogram were expecting an allocation for sustainable infrastructure to limit the damage inflicted by natural calamities.
Residents of these areas are losing their houses, land and suffering significantly due to natural hazards as sustainable protective infrastructures remain a far cry.
“At least an allocation of Tk 5,000 crore should be made each fiscal year to build and repair sustainable embankments in the cyclone-prone areas,” said Hasan Salehi, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board’s Patuakhali office.
Roughly an amount of only Tk 50-100 crore had been allocated in each budget, which is insignificant considering the damage these areas incur every year, he added.
Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Galachipa Upazila of Patuakhali, said that the wellbeing of the coastal people is disregarded in every budget.
"I have lost everything in Cyclone Yaas and the flood that followed. How many times will I have to build my house and see it being washed away?
"I hope the government will consider our misery and take effective measures so that we can live in peace," he said.
Associate Professor Abdus Sattar of Patuakhali Science and Technology University said that it is often the case that most of these embankments get damaged during natural calamities.
"The government should first form a committee to determine the causes behind the poor-quality embankments. Only then, a sustainable infrastructure can function,” he said.
