List of farmers affected by haor not acceptable: Babar

Netrokona-4 constituency MP Lutfuzzaman Babar said that the Prime Minister is angry with the list of farmers affected by heavy rains and hill floods in the haor area during the current Boro season. This list is not acceptable. The names of real farmers have been excluded from the list and additional names have been included. As a result, this list will be prepared after scrutinizing and selecting. The real affected farmers will be listed and provided assistance.

He said these things to the local people after visiting the affected areas in Monika Paschimpara village of Gobindashree Union of Madan Upazila of Netrokona on Saturday (May 9) afternoon.

Babar also said that BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has announced to provide assistance to the affected people. If any person from my party pressures you during the verification of the list, you will not listen to them. You will prepare the list correctly. Those who are eligible will get it, and those who are not eligible will not get it. My BNP leaders and activists will support you in this.

He also said that the new list will give priority to sharecroppers and marginal farmers, who have suffered real losses and are eligible to receive assistance.

A list of affected farmers was initially prepared through the joint efforts of the BNP and the administration. However, in that list, along with the actual victims, many names of non-farmers also appeared. Again, the names of farmers have been omitted. For this reason, a new list will be prepared.

At this time, he said to the fishermen, we basically did not get any separate allocation for fishermen. However, I have spoken to the relief minister in this regard. He will help me alternatively for the fishermen.

Regarding fishing in the haor, he said, if you find any net, you will burn it. This time, the government will release fish in the haor, I will also release fish in the haor with my own funds. That is why he has banned fishing by casting nets in the haor.

Regarding the development of the haor area, he said, we will have to make a fifth anniversary plan soon. We do not want development in isolation. We will carry out planned and long-term development considering the reality of the haor.

At that time, UNO Bedwati Mistry, Assistant Commissioner Shaolin Nahar, Upazila BNP President Nurul Alam Talukder, General Secretary Rafiqul Islam Akand, Agriculture Officer Mahmudul Hasan, Municipal BNP President Kamruzzaman Chanda, Gobindashree UP Chairman Maidul Islam Khan Mamun, Upazila Jubo Dal President Golam Russell Rubel, General Secretary Humayun Kabir, Chhatra Dal President SH Pipul, General Secretary Shamim Ahmed and others were present.