Students from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and the IEEE IUB Student Branch of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) distributed relief to over 220 families in some of the remotest and worst flood-affected areas in Noakhali on August 26, 2024.

A team of six EEE students played a crucial role in executing the relief operation. The team, led by Md. Mosiur Rahman Shadhin, included Yeah Yea Hossain Dip, Md. Arifur Rahman, Samiul Hasan, Md. Sadik Mahamud, and S. M. Azizul Hakim Adnan. Of them, Md. Arifur Rahman and Samiul Hasan are originally from Noakhali.

The student-led initiative was supported by Mustafa Habib Chowdhury, PhD, Associate Professor and Head of the EEE Department and other faculty members of the department, who contributed towards raising over BDT 1,81,000 for the relief work. Each relief package had 17 items, including food, drinking water, essential drugs and water purification tablets, which are expected to last each family several days.

Team lead Shadhin said, “The IUB EEE relief team recognized that many flood-affected areas in Noakhali were not receiving adequate aid, particularly those far from the main highways. While relief efforts primarily targeted easily accessible regions, inland communities remained largely underserved.”

The relief items were purchased in Dhaka on August 24, packed into individual family relief bags by the student volunteers the next day, and transported to Noakhali in a rented truck. Using the same vehicle and locally rented boats, the relief team members distributed the items in East Kutubpur Village under Begumganj upazila, Sreerampur Village under Noakhali Sadar upazila, and Podua Village under Shonaimuri-Chashirhut Upazila.

“In many areas water was up to waist high. There was torrential rain and flood water current was really strong. The role of our fellow students Md. Arifur Rahman and Samiul Hasan were absolutely critical. As locals, they knew exactly which areas were underserved and showed us the way so that we could reach those people who really needed the help,” said Shadhin.

The relief operation by the EEE students highlighted the importance of local knowledge and youth-led initiatives in disaster response. The team plans to continue collaborating with the local community to assess further needs and provide ongoing support in post-flood recovery and rehabilitation.