117cr flood rehabilitation project taken up by govt: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her government has taken up a 117 core project to ensure successful rehabilitation of the flood affected people after the disaster is over.

The Premier made announced the project while addressing a public meeting before distributing relief materials among flood victims at Gobindaganj Upazila Parishad premises in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha on Saturday morning.

Earlier, PM Hasina reached Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district to visit the flood affected people and asses the condition of the ongoing flood.

A transport helicopter of the Air Force carrying the Premier landed at the helipad constructed in Boalia of Gobindaganj upazila, Gaibandha at 10:10am on Saturday.

Elaborating about the program, Hasina said that under the program, the farmers would get different benefits till next boro-crop. Six lakh farmers of six northern districts would get each five-kg seeds of boro-paddy, 20 kg DAP, five kg MOP and cash amount of Taka 1,000 for next crop.

In addition, the government has undertaken an incentive programme at a cost of Taka 58.77 crore to provide support to the farmers. A farmer would get 10 to 20 kg DAP fertiliser and 5 to 15 kg MOP fertiliser so that farmers face no hurdle to buy seed and fertiliser, she added.

Seed of different types of cereals, pulses and species would be given to the small and marginal farmers who want to cultivate others crops except paddy.

The Prime Minister pointed out that distribution of rice seedlings has begun from August 24 and it will continue in the flood affected areas of the northern districts to help the farmers to start cultivation of paddy soon after receding water.

She said seedlings are being produced in different state owned agricultural research and development centers. About 1,000 floating seedbeds are being prepared to produce paddy saplings, she said.

A farmer would get one kilogram wheat seed or two kg maize seed, or one kg mustard oil seed or one kg nut seed or seeds of other types of pulses for cultivation so that they can cultivate whatever they are interested in after flood.

“We have taken the steps so that no land would fell uncultivated,” she said adding that “not a single person would go hungry. We would ensure food security of every people.”

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 spoke.

Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmood, PM’s Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, Whip Mahboob Ara Gini were present on the occasion.

Later, the Premiere will exchange views with political leaders, the local elite and the government officials involved in flood management at the Gobindaganj Upazila Parishad Hall Room.

In the afternoon, Sheikh Hasina will visit Sariakandi upazila of Bogra and distribute relief materials to the flood victims as well as seedlings to the flood-hit farmers at Sariakandi High School Playground.

She will later exchange views with political leaders, the local elite and the government officials involved in flood management at Sariakandi Degree College Hall Room.

The prime minister will return to Dhaka in the afternoon.

On August 20, Sheikh Hasina visited Dinajpur and Kurigram to see the condition of flood-stricken people of the two northern districts.

Source: The Daily Ittefaq