Speakers in a function here today unequivocally said and demanded of the concerned to construct women friendly slelter centers at the chars to help the affected char dwellers mitigate their sufferings caused by natural calamity.

“ The char union of the upazila experience devastating floods every year, causing the sufferings and the sorrows of the char people know no bounds. During the flood, the affected char people particularly the children and the pregnant women are to face miserable condition. Many of the flood victims are to stay on the roofs of the houses and pass the days in hardship for want of shelter centers there”, they also said.

They made the comments while they were addressing a big rally held at Fazlupur Char of Fulchhariupazila in the district this noon at the initiative of SKS Foundation, a Gaibandha base non-government development organization working across the country under   Community Based Resilience, Women’s Empowerment and Action Project, funded by ManusherJonno Foundation.

Members of the team that was formed  in the inspiration of the project made their speeches in the rally.

Sheikh Farid, one of the members of the team said, during the flood, the roads of the char go under flood water resulting the boys and the girls cannot go to school consequently they are at risk of security in their homes for want of shelter centers.

Sazeda Begum, a member of the female team said during the flood, their homesteads are surrounded with flood water. As a result, the children and the pregnant mothers can not move freely. That is why, the marooned people are to suffer a lot.

Local union parishad chairman Ansar A li said during the flood, the people especially the senior and the aged ones lead a sub- human life. The standing crops on the char land are damaged resulting the char people face food crisis all the year round.

A number of the teams formed by the project took part in the discussion and presented their sufferings and sorrows caused by devastating floods in the char through their speeches   and demanded of the concerned to take necessary steps to construct women friendly shelter centers at suitable places of the char as early as possible aimed at removing the hardship and pitiable condition of the flood affected char people.

Hundreds of char people from all walks of life participated in the rally holding posters, banners and placards inscribed with different slogans regarding their demand, said project coordinator Lovely Khatun.