Minister to visit Aila-hit Khulna, affected to stage sit-in
State Minister for Water Resources Md Mahbubur Rahman will visit Aila affected Dakope upazila of Khulna district today to see for himself progress of embankment works undertaken by Water Development Board (WDB).
Tomorrow, he will go to Koira upazila of Khulna district and Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district for the same purpose while over 2000 school students of Dakope, Koira and Paikgachha upazilas will observe a sit-in programme at Picture Place intersection in Khulna city to press home their demands for reconstruction of damaged embankments and immediate supply for relief and livelihood materials to mitigate sufferings of the affected people.
Aila Durgato Shanghati Mancha, a forum of different social organisations to help redress the sufferings of Aila affected people, have organised tomorrow's sit-in programme.
Holding books in their hands, the students will reiterate demands for reconstruction of damaged embankments, immediate allocation of fund for construction of damaged houses, distribution of winter clothes among affected people, supply of agricultural equipment with financial assistance to help them earn their livelihood, punishment of officials concerned of WDB and contractors for failing to construct embankments by December 31 this year and an impartial investigation into corruption in the implementation of relief and rehabilitation works.
The forum will submit memorandum to the Khulna deputy commissioner today, demanding steps to meet the demands by December 31 to avoid a tough movement.
“Aila-affected people have already lost their patience due to the authorities' false promises concerning construction of damaged embankments and implementation of rehabilitation project,” said convenor of the forum Feroze Ahmed said.
Demanding full participation of the army for construction of embankments in the Aila-affected areas as per earlier commitment, he said over Tk 100 crore has so far be wasted in the name of construction of embankments while lakhs of people are still staying in makeshift camps without adequate food and safe drinking water.a
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