Staff Reporter :
A study of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) reveals irregularities in distribution of relief materials during the ongoing flood that has affected over five million people and caused $116.5 million worth loss in agriculture sector.
The study said that the worst affected areas with higher poverty rates received far less in relief assistance than some of the least affected areas with lower poverty rates.
‘Field observations reveal both irregularities and inadequacy in the volume of relief disbursed,’ said the study report presented by Mohammad Kamruzzaman, senior research associate of CPD, at a virtual dialogue on Wednesday.
The virtual dialogue titled Recent Floods: Damages and Recovery Measures was hosted by CPD.
The study said that Kurigram was the worst flood affected area, with the highest poverty rate of over 70 per cent,
where about 50 per cent of the affected household received government’s rice assistance though far less than enough.
Gopalganj, one of the least affected districts in the flood, received five times what Kurigram got under the relief program in rice supplies, said the study.
Jamalpur, another worst flood affected district with more than 50 per cent poverty rate, received even less than Kurigram in rice supplies which had covered barely about a quarter of flood affected households, according to the study.
Similarly other flood affected areas such as Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Kishoreganj received far less relief rice than less affected areas such as Chandpur, Rangpur and Nilphamari.
CPD also analysed distribution of cash disbursed under the relief programme and found that Kishoreganj had received no cash aid while what Jamalpur received could cover less than 2 per cent affected households.
But Gopalganj got enough cash to distribute among about 7 per cent of the affected families while Rangpur got almost 12 per cent of the affected families covered with monetary assistance.
In Rangpur, the poverty rate is above 40 per cent but in Gopalganj it is below 30 per cent. In Gaibandha, Kishoreganj, Lalmonirhat and Jamalpur poverty rate is about 50 per cent.
The study said that the poverty rate was determined in 2016 which had become outdated with the COVID-19 crisis that had pushed hundreds of thousands into poverty.
State minister for disaster management and relief Enamur Rahman said that there was no irregularity in relief distribution while its allocation was decided based on field reports.
‘There is no shortage of relief,’ said Enam.
CPD distinguished fellow Mustafizur Rahman said that there was no disagreement about the fact that relief supplies were inadequate.
‘Many people fear that the ongoing flooding coupled with COVID-19 impacts might result in a food crisis. The government should immediately take into account the fear and adopt immediate measure to avoid such a crisis,’ said Mustafiz.
