Allegations of irregularities have been raised over the list of flood-hit farmers being drawn up in Kawadighi haor in Rajnagar, Moulvibazar.

The farmers allege that local union parishad members and the chairman, along with the sub-assistant agriculture officer, put the names of people they favoured on the list of flood-affected farmers, leaving out those who actually suffered losses.

At noon on Tuesday 30 June, affected farmers from wards 7 and 8 of Panchgaon union in Rajnagar upazila submitted a written complaint to the Rajnagar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO).

According to the complaint, farmers in Kawadighi haor live on a single crop of Boro rice. This Boro season, excessive rain raised the water level in the haor, their paddy was damaged under water and many farmers could not harvest it. Unable to harvest, they suffered heavy losses.

To support the affected farmers, the list was prepared under the supervision of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, with help from local representatives and sub-assistant agriculture officers. But instead of listing the real victims, the local representatives and the sub-assistant agriculture officer included people who did not grow Boro at all, depriving the real victims of their rights, the complaint says.

The farmers demand that the list be verified, that those who did not grow Boro or whose paddy was not damaged by the flood be removed, and that the government grant be distributed after the real victims are listed.

Farmers of Kawadighi haor Shahin Mia, Fakhrul Mia, Mitul Mia and Suhel Mia said people who suffered no flood losses are on the government grant list. "We have submitted a memorandum so that the real affected farmers get help," they said.

Rajnagar UNO Bipul Sarkar said: "The matter will be looked into. Also, because the allocation is small, it is not possible to give to everyone."

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