Sujon wants ‘haors’ declared distressed areas

Shusasoner Jannyo Nagorik (Sujon), or Citizens for Good Governace, has demanded that the government declare the flash flood-ravaged 'haors' (wetlands) as distressed areas and accordingly provide people with emergency help to overcome the situation.

The citizens' body made the demand at a press conference at the Jatiyo Press Club yesterday (Wednesday). Its general secretary, Badiul Alam Majumder, said the flash floods were both natural and man-made. Those responsible should be given exemplary punishment. After such a catastrophy, why hasn't the regions been declared distressed areas, he wondered.
Sujon president M Hafizuddin Khan quoted a secretary in the government as having said that until half of the population of a particular area are dead, it cannot be declared a distressed area. Khan noted that such a statement could never be acceptable.
Speaking on the occasion, a former cabinet secretary, Ali Imam Majumder, observed that flood waters would not recede from the "haors" before the end of Baishakh. This means that raising paddy crops afresh will not be possible. It will also not be possible to cultivate vegetables. So, the government will have to provide food grains to the affected people, he suggested.
Noted researcher and columnist Syed Abul Moqsud said the "haor" situation was a national disaster. The people there deserve not only relief, but also waiver of loans. He demanded investigation into the corruption in construction of flood embankments.
In a written statement, Sujon coordinator Sanjida Huq Bipasha said the affected region should be declared distressed areas under the Disaster Management Act, which calls for emergency assistance and rehabilitation of farmers.
Besides, Bipasha demanded exemplary punishment to people responsible and inquiry into the corruption and irregularities in  construction of embankments. She also sought steps to get back to the treasury money gobbled up by the corrupt.
The Sujon statement called for repairing damaged embankments on an urgent basis, making them serviceable by bringing changes in their design and developing a sustainable as well as permanent flood protection system by restoring the rivers, canals and wetlands through excavation during the dry season. 

Sujon wants haors declared distressed areas

Shusasoner Jannyo Nagorik (Sujon), or Citizens for Good Governace, has demanded that the government declare the flash flood-ravaged haors (wetlands) as distressed areas and accordingly provide people with emergency help to overcome the situation. The citizens body made the demand at a press conference at the Jatiyo Press Club yesterday (Wednesday). Its general secretary, Badiul Alam Majumder, said the flash floods were both natural and man-made. Those responsible should be given exemplary punishment. After such a catastrophy, why hasnt the regions been declared distressed areas, he wondered. Sujon president M Hafizuddin Khan quoted a secretary in the government as having said that until half of the population of a particular area are dead, it cannot be declared a distressed area. Khan noted that such a statement could never be acceptable. Speaking on the occasion, a former cabinet secretary, Ali Imam Majumder, observed that flood waters would not recede from the haors before the end of Baishakh. This means that raising paddy crops afresh will not be possible. It will also not be possible to cultivate vegetables. So, the government will have to provide food grains to the affected people, he suggested. Noted researcher and columnist Syed Abul Moqsud said the haor situation was a national disaster. The people there deserve not only relief, but also waiver of loans. He demanded investigation into the corruption in construction of flood embankments. In a written statement, Sujon coordinator Sanjida Huq Bipasha said the affected region should be declared distressed areas under the Disaster Management Act, which calls for emergency assistance and rehabilitation of farmers. Besides, Bipasha demanded exemplary punishment to people responsible and inquiry into the corruption and irregularities in construction of embankments. She also sought steps to get back to the treasury money gobbled up by the corrupt. The Sujon statement called for repairing damaged embankments on an urgent basis, making them serviceable by bringing changes in their design and developing a sustainable as well as permanent flood protection system by restoring the rivers, canals and wetlands through excavation during the dry season.