Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday told Parliament that the government will provide assistance for the next three months to farmers affected by ongoing heavy rain in three haor districts and parts of Mymensingh.
“We will try to support them (affected farmers) for the next three months,” he said while replying to a question from treasury bench MP Kalim Uddin Ahmed.
The MP drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the worsening situation in his area, saying that continuous heavy rainfall has submerged haor areas, including Sunamganj. “Our farmers are struggling in the fields to harvest their paddy. I urge the government, especially the Honorable Prime Minister, to extend support.”
In response, the Prime Minister said earlier in the morning, before the session began, he discussed the matter with the Disaster Management Minister.
He said he instructed the minister to identify farmers in the three affected haor districts, as well as in some parts of Mymensingh who have suffered crop losses due to heavy rainfall so that assistance can be provided.
He also noted that three days earlier, based on weather forecasts, he directed the local administration in the haor districts to make the necessary preparations to handle any situation arising from heavy downpours.
The Prime Minister described the situation facing haor farmers and their losses as “painful”.