by Shahida Akhter

05 December 2007

Dhaka, Bangladesh: The devastating cyclone SIDR attacked the coastal areas of Bangladesh on 16 November 2007 that took away thousands of lives, faded away towns and villages, caused thousands of people missing, destroyed crops and cattle and left behind the marks of unprecedented destruction. It was a dreadful night. Power supply went off and the whole country fell into darkness for long time.

Millions of people are now homeless, surviving without food, clothes, drinking water, medicine etc. Many of them are living under the open sky or tents or shelter centers. The disaster made me upset. Previously, I visited different coastal areas including Barisal and Patuakhali district during my work with the NGOs. So my heart was mourning for the destitute people whom I have seen before. Moreover, being a UNV volunteer, I couldn't keep silent at this crucial moment of my country and felt the responsibility to help the disaster victims as much as I can.

Meanwhile, I got a phone call all on a sudden from a folk singer of the fishermen community of Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali. He informed me about the desolation caused by the cyclone. This persuaded me more to fulfil my wish to do something what I can do for them. Then I contacted local correspondent of a Daily Newspaper and he assured me to give all support during my visit. 

Initially, when I announced my plan to visit the SIDR-affected areas, my family members got worried. In fact, they were concerned about my travel and security. Because the SIDR-affected areas are far away from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. But when they saw me determined to go, then they all came forward to help me by giving donation in cash and kinds. My younger sister Shamima Nasrin helped me in collecting fund and other things. Her husband M A Muttaleeb, Managing Director, Classic International Ltd. and his office staff donated a good amount of money for the cyclone victims.  My elder brother M A Hannan Chowdhury, Director, Body Fashions Ltd. gave cash money and woolen clothes for children. Younger brother Mohsin Chowdhury, Cargo Manager, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Dubai and his friend Saiful Islam sent money. My sister-in-law Selina Parvin donated money and assisted me in buying clothes. My niece Dr. Roksana Parvin, nephew Tauhid Elahi Chowdhury and other family members gave donation for the victims.

I got response from many other kind hearted people. Among them were Joel Menco from Netherlands, Judy Thompson (Former UN Professional) from Canada, Mosharraf Hossain Chowdhury, Director, Classic International Ltd., Dr. A A Quoreshi, Mukti Lawrence Foundation, Md. Shahjahan, Paragon Ltd., Professor Sirajul Islam,  Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Faisal Hasan, Md. Abdul Awal, Dr. Noazesh  Ahmed and some others.

My nephew Ishtiaq Hasnat Chowdhury, a student of East West University, Dhaka, accompanied me in my mission. I rented a big ambulance-cum microbus and took mineral water, T-shirt,  woolen clothes for men, women and children, blanket, shawl, sari and other clothes for girls and women, lungi, biscuit, soap, or-saline, medicine etc.
 
We started our journey from Dhaka on 30 November at 9:00 a.m. After crossing many ferries and driving on the bumping roads we reached Kalapara, where Nessar Uddin Ahmed Tipu, Upazila  Correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo and fisherman folk singer Hasan Parvez were waiting to take me to go to relief spot in Kuakata. From Dhaka it took 12 hours to reach our destination at Kuakata, a coastal fishing village where we spent night.

The next morning, we started our relief distribution operation in three villages of Kalapara Upazila- West Sonatola, Karampur and Majidpur.  On the roadside we saw some tents, where a few destitute people were trying to survive in a miserable condition. We distributed blankets, clothes, money etc., though it was not my selected relief spot.  Then we had to cross two ferries from where there was no access to any vehicle.

We had to use luggage van up to some spot, then walked on the narrow and rugged road, and finally reached to a place where many people including men, women and children were looking for relief. They were excited and glad to see me among them. In fact, it was a kind of solace to them. On the way to the fishermen villages, I didn't find any house standing. I saw many injured people.

I heard so many shocking anecdotes from the victims about how they survived and how many of their fellow victims lost their lives. A man was crying as he could not save his only daughter. He was seriously injured and needed immediate medical treatment. I gave him blanket, money and a woolen shawl for his wife, who went to a relief camp for help.  It was difficult to control my tears. But I was almost puzzled and felt helpless when I saw hundreds of victims surrounded me soliciting relief. My relief ability fell far short of their demands. The people of this remote area complained to me that no relief from the government or any other organization reached to them before my operation.

Then we went to the next village. Before my relief got exhausted, I rushed to the next selected village and distributed the rest of relief items to the victims. A boy was badly injured and now under treatment at  a  hospital in  Dhaka and I donated some money for his treatment. Then I rushed back to Dhaka for collecting more relief goods and fund. It was a misty night and driving was risky. But we had no other alternatives.

The situation was so desperate that we couldn't manage even food for ourselves. At 10 p.m. we reached Barisal and due to much pressure on hotels and guest  house, I didn't find a place to pass the night, and came to Dhaka straightway in the night ignoring all the hazards on the way to Dhaka.

I am grateful to all who kindly responded to my appeal for donation in cash and kind to my relief fund.

Today, 5 December, is the International Volunteers Day.  On this day, I appeal to all to come forward to the restoration operations going on in the SIDR-affected area.