UNB, Gaibandha :
Mentioning that no flood victim will suffer from hunger, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the government will import 15 lakh metric tonnes of food grains, if necessary, for ensuring the food security of people.
“We’ll distribute food free of cost among the extreme poor who are unable to buy it. Our plan is to ensure that until the next crops are harvested …not a single person will suffer from hunger,” she said while distributing relief materials and seedlings among flood victims on the premises of Gobindaganj upazila parishad.
The Prime Minister said, the government has taken a Tk 117 crore project for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people in northern districts.
Under the programme, she said the farmers would get various benefits till the next Boro crop. Six lakh farmers of six northern districts will get five kg seeds of Boro-paddy, 20 kg DAP, five kg MOP and cash amount of Tk 1000 for the next crop.
Besides, the government has undertaken an incentive programme involving Tk 58.77 crore to provide support to the farmers. A farmer will get 10-20 kg DAP fertilizer and 5-15 kg MOP fertilizer so that they face no hurdle in buying seed and fertilizer, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said, the government was aware that there would be a flashflood this time. “So, we took steps to ensure food for all and avert any possible food scarcity…we’ve already started importing food grains.”
The Prime Minister said, the government will distribute Tk 58,77,19,315 among the flood victims alongside continuing the agricultural loan so that they can go for cultivating their next crops. “We’re beside you, and will remain so. We’ll do whatever is needed to change your fate,” she said.
Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Food Minister Advocate Qamrul Islam, AL Joint Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Organizing Secretary Khalid Mahmood Chowdhury, local MP Abul Kalam also spoke on the occasion.
Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmood, PM’s Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddiq and Whip Mahboob Ara Gini were present.
The Prime Minister said the seeds of different types of cereals, pulses and species will be given to the small and marginal farmers who want to cultivate others crops except paddy.
She said, distribution of rice seedlings began from on August 24 and it will continue in the flood-affected areas of the northern districts to help the farmers to start the cultivation of paddy soon after receding water.
She said seedlings are being produced in different state owned agricultural research and development centers. About one thousand floating seedbeds are being prepared to produce paddy saplings, she said.
Terming flood in Bangladesh as blessings for the country sometimes, she said the underground water which is decreasing day by day is recharged with rainwater and floodwater while flood carries silts to make cultivable land more fertile.
She put emphasis on strengthening efforts to reduce the loss of lives and properties to a minimum level at any cost.
Talking about her government’s measures to improve the living standard of people, Hasina said her party Awami League is an organisation of people and it is with them at their all needs to ensure their welfare and better living condition.
According to available official statistics, some 2,260 houses were damaged completely, while 1,18,897 partially in Gainbandha by the ongoing flood. Crops on 27,167 hectors of land were damaged and 13 people died in the flood. 680 km of roads and 42.70 km of embankment were damaged.
The number of affected educational institutions by the flood is 350, while that that of religious institutions is 73.
Some 6,937 flood-affected people are now in 35 shelter centres. About 1,800 mt of rice and cash Tk 58 lakh and 4000 packets of dry food were allocated as of August 25. The total amount of relief goods allocated so far is Tk 8,11,74,423.
Thirty-eight medical teams are now working in the district.
