Around five lakh people of three upazilas and three municipalities around Bhabadah beel in Jessore were marooned as water from the beel submerged their homes, croplands, educational institutions, temples, mosques and roads after heavy rain. 

The affected upazilas are Abhaynagar, Monirampur and Keshabpur, and the municipalities are Nawapara, Abhaynagar and Keshabpur. 

Md Nasir Uddin, upazila nirbahi office of Abhoynagor, said five lakh people were affected by the rain. "We requested the Water Development Board to solve the problem. A high official of the Board visited the affected areas," the UNO added.  

Poritosh Biswas, former chairman of Sundali Union Parishad under Abhaynagar upazila, said a vast area under the three upazilas has gone under water, affecting around seven lakh people of over 100 villages. "They are now living in deplorable conditions with no food and lack of pure drinking water," he added. 

Dr Humayun Kabir, deputy commissioner of Jessore, said, "A number of fish enclosures and ponds were affected by the rain." 

Sharif Rayhan Kabir, upazila nirbahi officer of Keshabpur, said 10,000 people of seven unions and a municipality under the upazila were affected due to waterlogging, causing a loss of Tk 20 crore in agriculture sector and Tk 37 crore in fishery. "About 3,000 thatched houses were damaged," he added. 

Eleven tonnes of rice were allocated as relief for the affected people, Sharif said. 

Selim Reza said he shifted his domestic animals to a relative's house about 10 kilometres from his residence. 

A number of primary and secondary schools and colleges remained closed as they have been submerged.

Dilip Sarkar of Dohakhola village under Monirampur upazila said, "We are now in a deplorable condition. My daughter Chaitee, a Class VI student, has to say at home instead of going to school." 

Elderly man Narayan Chandra Mallik and his wife Ranjita Mallik were staying on the Moshihati-Nawapara Road at Sujatpur village due to lack of a place to stay.  

Ashim Mondol, a teacher of Moshihati Degree College in Monirampur upazila, said attendance of students is very poor.