Campaign for Reconstruction of Cyclone Aila-damaged Embankments before Monsoon

The devastating cyclone Aila hit the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh on 25th May 2009. Most of the coastal embankments were collapsed by the following storm surge of Aila due to poor management of the embankments, setting pipe and making holes by the shrimp farm owners and high sedimentation in the riverbed. The total area submerged under saline water and now washing twice daily by the high tide. More than 300 thousand people lost their houses, agricultural land, livestock, fish resources and other possessions. More than 100 thousand left the area because the total area became barren land.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is solely responsible to maintain, repair and management of the embankments according to the Embankment and Drainage Act 1952. But they have failed to take proper initiative to reconstruct the embankments. After 9 months of movement in favor of the people, the BWDB started working. But due to heavy pressure of high tides the embankments collapsed again because those are not repaired in national standards. More than 200 thousand people are still living on the embankments and highways.
We, from Humanitywatch, have form a civil society platform namely Aila Affected Solidarity Committee to pressurize government for reconstruction of embankments before monsoon. The committee organized several programs including Sit-In program, Human Chain, Procession, Submission of Memorandum, Press Conference, Farmers Procession, Child Chain, photography exhibition, video documentary show and permanent Aila Mancho for 5 days.