BNP calls for relief support for flood-hit farmers

Stating that farmers in the country’s northern and Mymensingh regions have been severely affected by the recent floods, BNP on Sunday demanded the government to provide comprehensive support to these farmers, including relief assistance, incentives and interest-free loans.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, party senior joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the government has yet to implement any visible relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of flood victims in the affected regions.

“Greater Mymensingh and various parts of the northern region were inundated by heavy floods from the end of last month to the first week of October, following the devastating floods in the eastern areas a few days back. Lakhs of people are enduring severe hardships as they remain stranded by the flood,” he said.

Quoting experts, the BNP leader attributed this disastrous flooding to the monsoon rains and the surge of water from the upstream hills.

He said that farmers who cultivated aman paddy, as well as vegetable growers and fish and poultry farm owners in different districts, including Mymensingh, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Netrokona, Kurigram, Kushtia, Jashore and Khulna, have been badly affected.

“The extensive relief and rehabilitation efforts observed during the floods in the eastern part of the country are not currently evident. The affected farmers and farm owners require urgent support for their rehabilitation,” Rizvi said.

He emphasised that the government must take a key role in alleviating the suffering of flood victims. “To ensure a steady supply of rice, pulses, vegetables, fish, meat and eggs in the market, the government must be proactive. Farmers should receive support through increased availability of fertilisers, pesticides, and seeds, or by providing incentives.”

The BNP leader urged the government also to compile an accurate list of those whose crops and land have been damaged by the floods and to provide them with full relief assistance until the next crop is ready for harvest.

He said the government should provide affected farmers with interest-free agricultural loans for the next crop, along with free fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and fuel for irrigation. “They should also receive seeds for Robi crop production in preparation for the next growing season.”

The BNP leader also said the government must prepare a list of fish, poultry, and livestock farms affected by the floodwaters and offer them interest-free loans and other additional assistance to help re-establish their farms.