Around 20 million people at haor belt in 47 upazilas of seven north-eastern districts are under inauspicious environment to lead their life due to geographical hazards. They have been having insufficient civic privileges for the less development activities of the government. But the haor people have seen a light of hope as the government has taken several initiative to develop the area.
Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetlands Development Director General Md Majibur Rahman told The Asian Age that the government's 20-year well-thought massive policy has already been initiated for ensuring the common welfare of the haor people and it will augment their life expectancy in the future.
Md Majibur Rahman also said "There are 373 haors, around 858,640 hectares land, located in the districts of Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj, Maulivi-bazar, Netrokona, Kisho-reganj and Bramhanbaria and 20 million people in the area that is 43 percent out of the total three crore people there. According to the climate experts, flash flood is the main disaster in the haor area which affects the agriculture production sector and thus threatens the lives and livelihoods of the people.
Excessive rainfall in the upstream hilly areas and subsequent runoff, sedimentation in the rivers, deforestation and hill cuts, landslide, improper drainage, unplanned road and water management infrastructure. The government has initiated a master plan in case the people, boiling with boundless miseries, can lead their life by enjoying all sorts of civic privileges that will be the prerequisites for facilitating the new vista in social, economic, political and all other segments those make them happy in the days to come.
According to the sources, the 373 haors covering 1.99 million hectare land that is equal to 43% area of the seven districts. In haor area 5.25 % paddy production in 963,000 hectares and 20% fish production comes from the area, livestock 22%, literacy rate 38%, 30% people are under poverty, 30% unemployed, 71% primary enrollment, and sanitation utility rate 42.25%. Under these circumstances, the government has initiated a massive development policy effective from 2012 to 2032 for which 14 firms have been working for 27 development projects for giving impetus to the all out welfare of the people living in the haor belt.
According to Water Resources Ministry, after implementing 20-year development project in the haor belt, the people living in the area will get every civic rights and their life standard will increase and facilitate a new dimension to make their life happy.
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