Farmers in the haor region hit by sudden heavy rain and flash floods from the hills will receive food aid from the government for the next three months, disaster management and relief minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said.

He said this on the morning of 3 May as chief guest at the inauguration of the "Bidyanondo Self-Employment Project 2026" on the ground of Barabari Shahid Abul Kashem Mahavidyalaya in Lalmonirhat.

The minister said lakhs of hectares of cultivated land and paddy in the haor districts had gone under water because of the sudden floods, leaving farmers there utterly helpless. The prime minister has instructed that these farmers be supported, and the ministry will provide food aid for the next three months, he said.

He said the prime minister had already directed the agriculture ministry to rehabilitate the farmers. Lists of losses are being prepared and verified for farmers in Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sunamganj, Habiganj, wide areas of Sylhet and the submerged parts of Brahmanbaria. Listed farmers will be given a special card through which they will receive the aid every month. The minister said he will visit Sunamganj on 6 May to formally launch the assistance.

Giving an overall picture, the minister said a final list of the losses in the haor region has not yet been prepared. In some places farmers have been able to bring home 60 per cent of their paddy, and in others only 40 per cent. Not enough labourers can be found to cut the submerged paddy, leaving farmers at a loss. He assured them that the present government, which holds the people's mandate, stands beside farmers in this crisis to relieve their hardship.

At the event, income-generating items were distributed among 101 poor and destitute families under Bidyanondo Foundation's zakat-based self-employment project. Of them, 33 received shop goods, 20 received vans, 18 received cows and 30 received sewing machines. The beneficiaries were delighted to receive the items free of charge.

Lucky Akter, who received goods for her shop, said she had been unable to stock her shop for lack of capital. The Bidyanondo team visited her home to find out her situation and bought the goods for her, which will greatly improve her family's circumstances, she said.

Jaovara Begum, who was given a sewing machine, said she had been too poor to buy one. With this machine she now hopes to work and overcome her hardship.

Jamal Uddin, executive director of Bidyanondo Foundation, said that in keeping with the core purpose of zakat, they selected 101 families to help make poor people self-reliant. The programme will gradually be carried out in all 64 districts of the country, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.