Protest rally demands punishing responsible WDB officials

Leaders of the Bangladesh Krishak Mojur Sanghati (BKMS) at a protest rally on Saturday  demanded the exemplary punishment for those responsible for the recent disaster in the haor region, alleging negligence by the Water Development Board (WDB) and local administration.

The demand was made at the protest rally held in front of the National Press Club.

Organisers described the situation in the haor region as a man-made disaster, blaming the negligence in haor flood embankment management and flood control measures for the crisis.

Speakers at the rally including Acting Chief Coordinator of the Ganosanghati Andolon and President of the BKMS, Dewan Abdur Rashid Neelu said the government took no visible action against the  responsible for the crisis. In addition to exemplary punishment for the officials involved, they also demanded immediate implementation of the measures.

Ganosanghati Andolon Leader Syed Mohammad Hasan Maruf Rumi said the country's economy largely depends on agricultural production, garment workers and remittance earners, most of  whom come from farming families. However, he alleged that policymakers continue to overlook farmers in national economic planning.