'Most vulnerable' area skipped on deputy minister's order

The decision to shift the programme from Kolkond union to Alam Biditor and Kholea unions in Gangachara upazila was taken at the January 18 meeting of the district relief and rehabilitation committee where Deputy Minister for Relief Asadul Habib Dulu was present, sources at the Deputy Commissio-ner's office told this correspondent.

Under the programme, Tk one crore loans will be disbursed among flood affected poor people for rehabilitation. Each beneficiary will get at least Tk 10,000 loan at nominal interest.

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This is part of a countrywide programme to disburse Tk 34 crore loans in 23 districts including five in northern region.

District disaster management committees will implement the programme through upazila committees.

Kholka union was earlier included in the programme. The shift has created resentment in the area, according to local body leaders.

Besides, seven Union Parishad (UP) chairmen in Gangachara upzila have expressed their resentment and requested the Rangpur Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) to change the decision.

Kolkond UP Chairman Mostafa Kamal sent a memorandum to the Director General of Relief and Reha-bilitation Department in Dhaka through Deputy Commi-ssioner Rafiqul Islam on January 5 for changing the January 18 decision.

In the memorandum he stated that most of the people in his union are hardcore poor as all six wards in the area are affected by river erosion and flood almost every year.

"They are the poorest in the district and they deserve priority in any such programme", Mostafa Kamal told this correspondent when contacted yesterday.

But he is yet to get any response either from the Deputy Commi-ssioner or from Dhaka.

If the government really wants to alleviate poverty from Gangachara, it should consider the people of Kolkond union first, he said.

He said about 80 percent area of Kolkond union was flooded last year and 65 percent people there are landless due to erosion by Teesta river.

The district committee had earlier selected Koldkond and Lahkitari unions to implement the programme, the sources said.

"As per the decision, letters were sent to me twice from the Deputy Commissioner's office to send a list of flood affected people and I submitted a list", Mostafa Kamal claimed.

The DC is president of the district disaster management committee.

A member of Koldkond UP seeking anonymity claimed that the programme has been shifted to Kholea and Alambitor unions because the chairmen of these UPs are leaders of the ruling party.

The DC however said this is a pilot project and it will be implemented in phases. Kolkond union will bebrought under the programme in the next phase.

He however said Kholea and Alam Biditor unions are also vulnerable and flood affected areas.