Sylhet Bureau :
Almost 30 per cent construction work of haor crop protection embankments in Sylhet remain even after deadline.
Farmers of different parts in the division alleged that apart from various irregularities, construction work of maximum 70 per cent of the haor crop protection dams has so far been completed.
They now fear that flash flood may damage their Boro crops due to poor progress in the repair and construction work of the dams.
According to them, the work will not complete even after February 28, the government-set deadline although there is a weather forecast of early rain and flash floods this year.
An official of the Water Development Board (WDB) admitted that the progress of the work is around 70 per cent.
“Late release of funds has alreadz caused some delay in the work. What we now need is quick release of the fund,” he added.
WDB Chief Engineer (North-East region, Sylhet) SM Shahidul Islam also recognised delay in starting the work for Union Parishad Elections and other reasons.
“About 799 projects have been started with a budget of Tk 7.30 billion (730.03 crore) in the Sylhet division,” he said.
However, the field survey showed that these projects are being implemented along 679-kilometre embankments, which would require Tk 12.85 million (128.58 lakh) in total,” he added.
The Ministry of Water Resources had earlier instructed the authorities to complete the repair and construction work of haor crop protection embankments by February 28 this year.
Many of the farmers alleged that the formation of Project Implementation Committee (PIC) had been delayed at the beginning of the season, which resulted in the overall delay.
Anwar Hossain, a local of Shantiganj upazila, said that they want transparency in PIC formation and other works as well as timely execution of the projects.”
Police Memorial Day celebrated
Police Memorial Day was observed in Sylhet in memory of the policemen who sacrificed their lives in the war of independence and were killed in the line of duty.
On the occasion on Tuesday. high-ranking law enforcement officials paid homage to the memory of the police line at Rikabibazar at 11 am.
Later, A discussion meeting was held at Shamsul Haque Auditorium in memory of the slain policemen.
DIG of Sylhet Range Mofiz Ahmed PPM of was present as the chief guest at the discussion meeting chaired by Sylhet Superintendent of Police Farid Uddin Ahmed and chaired by Assistant Superintendent of Police Muktazul Islam.
Acting President of Sylhet District Awami League and former Member of Parliament Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. , Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League President Bir Muktijoddha Masuk Uddin Ahmed, Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Professor Zakir Hossain and Sylhet Awami League General Secretary Adv. Nasir Uddin Khan along with officers from every police station in Sylhet were present.
