Staff Reporter :
Death of six buffaloes at Batakandi village in Chhatak upazila and Bhukhali village in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district created a fresh panic among the haor people on Wednesday, according to our Sunamganj Correspondent.
The farmers in the haor areas are already passing through an inhuman life, cattle’s death news will be another shock to them. However, it was not the result of any epidemic, added our correspondent.
Cattle—cows, buffaloes and goats-graze beside the haor, especially in the dry season. Buffaloes usually like to dive into the haor waters during summer.
On Monday a farmer at Batakandi village along with his buffaloes went to haor for their grazing.
Like previous days, the buffaloes were grazing beside the haor and later they started diving in the haor waters.
The following day, they started feeling sick and three of them died.
Apart from Batakandi village, the death news of buffaloes and other cattle from the farmers across the haor districts, was also reaching capital Dhaka.
At least three cattle died at villages in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district.
Meanwhile, Syed Abul Maksud, Executive Member, Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) on Wednesday demanded that the government declare flash flood-hit haor areas as disaster zones, and provide the victims with relief materials until the new crops are harvested.
He raised the demand at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday.
Criticizing the Disaster Management and Relief Secretary, Abul Maksud said affected areas should be declared as disaster ones on the basis of the extent of losses.
“The Secretary said that if half the people of a region didn’t die it can’t be declared as disaster-prone one. It is not correct. It doesn’t depend on people’s casualty. It depends on losses,” Maksud said.
He alleged that though different haor areas in Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj were affected by flash flood caused by excessive rain and onrush of waters from upstream,
the government did not take any effective step to tackle the natural disaster and mitigate the sufferings of the victims.
Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder said all crops in the flood-hit areas have so far been completely damaged, putting the farmers into serious predicament.
“The affected people were going through inhuman situation amid the shortage of food because of the damage of crops. The government is distributing inadequate relief materials as eyewash,” he said.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Wednesday said fishermen along with farmers at haor areas will be brought under vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme.
“They became workless like farmers in the areas due to flash flood, so the government has decided to bring fishermen under VGF programme,” he told a review meeting on the flood situation at haor areas at his ministry’s in the city.
The leave of all government officials in the haor areas and those of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has been cancelled so that they can take part in emergency operations.
The minister said the government would also arrange alternative employment for fishermen, adding, “We have already disbursed Taka 10-15 crore on district basis and the programme would be implemented through union chairmen under a 40-day employment programme.”
Maya said the government would bring 3.30 lakh marginal poor people under VGF programme in the areas, adding, “If the number increased they also would get this support.”
Death of six buffaloes at Batakandi village in Chhatak upazila and Bhukhali village in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district created a fresh panic among the haor people on Wednesday, according to our Sunamganj Correspondent.
The farmers in the haor areas are already passing through an inhuman life, cattle’s death news will be another shock to them. However, it was not the result of any epidemic, added our correspondent.
Cattle—cows, buffaloes and goats-graze beside the haor, especially in the dry season. Buffaloes usually like to dive into the haor waters during summer.
On Monday a farmer at Batakandi village along with his buffaloes went to haor for their grazing.
Like previous days, the buffaloes were grazing beside the haor and later they started diving in the haor waters.
The following day, they started feeling sick and three of them died.
Apart from Batakandi village, the death news of buffaloes and other cattle from the farmers across the haor districts, was also reaching capital Dhaka.
At least three cattle died at villages in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district.
Meanwhile, Syed Abul Maksud, Executive Member, Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) on Wednesday demanded that the government declare flash flood-hit haor areas as disaster zones, and provide the victims with relief materials until the new crops are harvested.
He raised the demand at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday.
Criticizing the Disaster Management and Relief Secretary, Abul Maksud said affected areas should be declared as disaster ones on the basis of the extent of losses.
“The Secretary said that if half the people of a region didn’t die it can’t be declared as disaster-prone one. It is not correct. It doesn’t depend on people’s casualty. It depends on losses,” Maksud said.
He alleged that though different haor areas in Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj were affected by flash flood caused by excessive rain and onrush of waters from upstream,
the government did not take any effective step to tackle the natural disaster and mitigate the sufferings of the victims.
Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder said all crops in the flood-hit areas have so far been completely damaged, putting the farmers into serious predicament.
“The affected people were going through inhuman situation amid the shortage of food because of the damage of crops. The government is distributing inadequate relief materials as eyewash,” he said.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Wednesday said fishermen along with farmers at haor areas will be brought under vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme.
“They became workless like farmers in the areas due to flash flood, so the government has decided to bring fishermen under VGF programme,” he told a review meeting on the flood situation at haor areas at his ministry’s in the city.
The leave of all government officials in the haor areas and those of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has been cancelled so that they can take part in emergency operations.
The minister said the government would also arrange alternative employment for fishermen, adding, “We have already disbursed Taka 10-15 crore on district basis and the programme would be implemented through union chairmen under a 40-day employment programme.”
Maya said the government would bring 3.30 lakh marginal poor people under VGF programme in the areas, adding, “If the number increased they also would get this support.”
