Prime Sheikh Hasina has warned against hoarding and increase of the prices of food grains in plea of flood in the northeastern Haor areas saying tough actions would be taken against such a malpractice.
She issued the warning while addressing a gathering of local people at Shalla Upazila headquarters in Sunamganj on Sunday, reports BSS.
She said: "There is no any shortage of food in the country, and Haor areas supply a very small portion of the national food demand. So there is no reason of increasing the prices of food grains in plea of shortage."
The prime minister said the government is examining any negligence in constructing the embankments of the Haors and resolved that actions would be taken if anybody found responsible for this.
She said payment of all bank loans of the Haor people would remain postponed until harvesting of the new crop and interest of the bank loan would be halved. She also announced distribution of fertilizer, seeds, other agricultural components among farmers free of cost and monthly allowance of Tk500 for every affected family.
A helicopter carrying the prime minister landed on Shahid Ali High School ground in Shalla upazila in the morning. She witnessed the flood-hit areas from the helicopter before her landing. She also visited some affected areas by a speed boat.
The prime minister held a meeting with senior officials and then distributed relief goods among the flood-hit people and gave necessary directives to ensure getting relief materials by every affected person.
Urging the people not to be afraid of natural disaster, the prime minister said her government has issued a standing order regarding the duties to be performed by the officials, local administration and ministries, and they are doing their job accordingly.
Hasina said: "So there is nothing to be anxious about the supply of food and reaching help to the affected people."
According to the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, as many as 8,50,088 families of 518 unions of 62 upazilas in six districts--Sunamganj, Sylhet, Netrakona, Kishoreganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar -- were affected by the flash flood. Boro crops on 2,49,840 hectares of land were completely damaged and 18,205 houses partially or fully destroyed in the flood.
The prime minister said a total of 587 relief centres were opened for distribution of relief goods. So far 4,224 metric tonnes of gratuitous rice and Tk2,25,97000 were allocated as humanitarian assistance for the affected people.
The flash flood triggered by early monsoon submerged vast swathes of the country's northeastern region damaging Boro paddy just a few days ahead of harvesting and putting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers at risk.
Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Netrakona and Brahmanbaria districts were affected mostly by the flood.
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