'Save 20 lakh waterlogged people in Khulna, Satkhira'
The government should extend its assistance to the nearly 20 lakh people waterlogged in Khulna and Satkhira districts, demanded speakers at a press conference yesterday.
They said people here have been living without food, shelter and medical facilities since the relief assistance provided to these areas is insufficient, said a press release.
Media Forum for Human Rights and Environmental Development organised the conference to shed light on the current situation of these areas.
The highway at Paikgacha in Khulna, which has been under water for a month, is hampering the communication between the two areas, said the speakers.
They demanded immediate digging of Kobadak River, which has already lost navigability, to ensure water flow so as to drain out the waterlogged areas to save people's lives.
Meanwhile, speakers at another meeting yesterday alleged that lack of dredging of rivers led to water logging in the southern and western parts of the country.
They demanded the government to announce the waterlogged upazilas devastated areas and to ensure proper relief assistance to them, said a press release.
Nagorik Sanghati and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods jointly organised the programme in front of the city's Jatiya Press Club.
Last year's budget had Tk 281 crore reserved for dredging the dying rivers of the country's southern and western parts, said the speakers.
They blamed the Bangladesh Water Development Board for showing no effort to dredge up the rivers.
Since the water has nowhere to go, the land becomes waterlogged, they added.
They also demanded implementation of Tidal River Management that would enhance water flow and prevent water logging.
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