Sunamganj district administration has withdrawn its ban on fishing in the haors. The decision was taken at a meeting on Tuesday morning.
Earlier, the district administration imposed a week-long ban on fishing as huge fish died in the haors following the recent flashflood. Meanwhile, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya has called on NGOs to refrain from forcing victims of the recent haor floods into paying back their small loans.
State Minister of Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy, who was accompanying the minister, also spoke in support of the proposal.
The relief minister was at Netrokona's Barhatta Upazila Chiram Tahera Mannan Memorial High School yesterday to distribute aid to the affected flood victims. "The government stands with the haor farmers suffering from the floods," he said.
"We will do all we can to help until the harvest is safe and you have enough in your storehouses. I call upon the NGOs - please do not pressurize these people to repay their loans for the next year."
The proposal was echoed by Netrokona MP Arif Khan Joy, who told farmers seeking aid, "You do not have to pay loan installments for the next year."
Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Shah Kamal spoke to the farmers about the various measures undertaken by the government to provide them with aid.
"You must learn about the types of aid provided by the government and ensure you get your designated amount. No deceptions will be tolerated."
Local farmer, Saifuddin (60), said a significant portion of his harvest had also been wiped out. Though aid was to have been distributed in his locality, he has yet to receive any, he said.""It is only the wealthy who get the aid. We get nothing."
Housewife Saleha Begum says she received two kilograms of rice from her Union Parishad chairman. She had heard of the minister's visit and attended in the hope of getting more aid.
A total of 330 farmers received 15 kilograms of rice and Tk 500 in aid each. But many others in search of aid were turned away.
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