JASHORE, May 16: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has said the government will make its highest efforts to free nearly one million people of the Bhabadaha area in Jashore from chronic water-logging.
Mentioning that the issue has already been brought to the attention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the state minister said political affiliation of elected lawmakers in the affected areas would not be a consideration in resolving the crisis.
"For Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the main consideration is to free the one million people of the Bhabadaha area from the suffering caused by waterlogging," he said.
He made the remarks while addressing a workshop as the chief guest at the Jashore Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Saturday.
The workshop, titled "Feasibility Study for Improving the Drainage System of the Bhabadaha Area in Jashore and Formulating a Sediment Management Plan for the Shibsa and Pashur River Basins in the South-Western Region," was organised by the Bangladesh Water Development Board and the Institute of Water Modelling.
Recalling his past experiences during what he termed the "fascist regime," Amit said he had delivered relief materials to people in the Bhabadaha area despite facing attacks, cases, and remaining in hiding at the time.
"I witnessed the suffering of the people with my own eyes," he said.
The state minister described a permanent solution to the Bhabadaha waterlogging problem as both his political commitment and moral responsibility as a resident of Jashore.
He alleged that funds had been allocated repeatedly in the past in the name of solving the Bhabadaha crisis, but the money had been misappropriated while the problem remained unresolved.
"As a result, a crisis of trust has developed between the government and local people," he said.
Amit said the trust deficit could be reduced if accurate and impartial lists of waterlogging victims were prepared with the assistance of local public representatives. He urged the authorities concerned to remain vigilant in this regard.
The workshop was chaired by Jashore Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ashik Hasan.
Among the special guests were lawmakers Golam Rasul of Jashore-4, Gazi Enamul Haque of Jashore-5, and Moktar Ali of Jashore-6, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Khondkar Azim Ahmed, and Additional Director General of the Water Development Board Md Ruhul Amin.
Senior Specialist of the Institute of Water Modelling Sheikh Nahiduzzaman presented details of the survey project at the workshop.
Apart from water management experts, the daylong programme was attended by local public representatives, political leaders, affected residents, and journalists, who shared their opinions on the issue.
