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The government will provide food assistance for three months to farmers in haor regions affected by flashfloods and onrush of hilly water, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said on Tuesday.
"As per the directives of the Prime Minister the food assistance will be provided to the affected farmers," he said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting at local circuit house here yesterday as the chief guest.
The meeting was organized to assist the farmers of the district affected by recent heavy rains that damaged the boro crops in the haor region.
The minister said that the ministry of disaster management and relief is planning a program to support the affected farming families for the next three months.
He emphasized on the importance of preparing accurate beneficiary lists and ensuring timely distribution of assistance. District officials have been instructed to consult with local Members of Parliament while preparing these lists, he added.
Speaking as a special guest, Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said that a coordinated haor management program would be undertaken to protect the crops. Planned initiatives include dredging the haors, constructing sluice gates, providing harvesters suitable for waterlogged conditions, distributing seedlings and fertilizers and offering agricultural loans.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir stressed the need to protect the haor ecosystem and adopt modern technologies to prevent recurring of disasters.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar said the government would implement short, medium and long-term programs for the development of the farmers and preserve the biodiversity in the haor region.
The meeting was chaired by Acting Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet Ashraful Rahman where local Members of Parliament Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon, Nurul Islam and Kamruzzaman Kamrul along with local Zila Parishad Administrator Mizanur Rahman were present.
The minister later inaugurated a three-month humanitarian assistance program for the farmers affected by heavy rainfall at Bishwambharpur upazila auditorium.
