Moeen focuses on massive post-flood cultivation
Monday, 20 August 2007
SIRAJGANJ, Aug 19 (BSS): Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed today focused on cultivation of vegetables and rice, saying intensive cropping should be started once the floodwaters recede from the affected areas.
"This is not for the first time we are facing floods in our country. So, please keep confidence and have patience in facing the natural disaster," he said while distributing relief materials among the flood victims in Meghai Bazar and Meghai Ghat areas of Kazipur Upazila in the district.
Meghai, one of the areas vulnerable to regular floods and erosion from the Jamuna river, has been affected severely by this year's floods and many people have been rendered homeless as one of the three major rivers of the country devoured their land.
General Moeen distributed clothes, baby food, rice and seeds of vegetables among 1,000 families of Meghai. He said a 30-bed mobile hospital has been set up in Kazipur to extend emergency medical services to the diarrhoea-hit people.
The government has a plan to build a permanent flood protection embankment and spars to check the river erosion in the area, he said.
"I can give you the commitment that the members of the armed forces would always stand by you," he said.
The seeds of vegetables are being distributed free of cost so that the farmers can produce cash crops to cope up with their economic losses from the floods. He said the floods should be faced unitedly as the people did in the past.
Area Commander of Bogra Maj Gen Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury, Brigadier General Emdadul Haq and Deputy Commissioner of Sirajganj district Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, among others, were present.
At a separate meeting in Faridpur this afternoon, the Army Chief said the country has suffered a huge damage of crops and infrastructures during the floods, but the people should not sit idle.
The general said the farmers should take new initiatives to grow fresh vegetables, where the government would provide seeds and fertilisers. He said the government has enough stocks of foodgrains and money for supporting the flood victims.
"None would be allowed to die of hunger," he said reminding all to keep transparency in the relief distribution. Please keep in mind that once you touched the fire, it would burn you, he said in an oblique reference to irregularities in the relief distribution.
General Moeen also visited the army-run 30-bed mobile hospital in the district and distributed relief materials among the victims.
General Officer Commanding of the 55 Infantry Division Major General Rafiqul Islam accompanied the four-star general during his visit.
"This is not for the first time we are facing floods in our country. So, please keep confidence and have patience in facing the natural disaster," he said while distributing relief materials among the flood victims in Meghai Bazar and Meghai Ghat areas of Kazipur Upazila in the district.
Meghai, one of the areas vulnerable to regular floods and erosion from the Jamuna river, has been affected severely by this year's floods and many people have been rendered homeless as one of the three major rivers of the country devoured their land.
General Moeen distributed clothes, baby food, rice and seeds of vegetables among 1,000 families of Meghai. He said a 30-bed mobile hospital has been set up in Kazipur to extend emergency medical services to the diarrhoea-hit people.
The government has a plan to build a permanent flood protection embankment and spars to check the river erosion in the area, he said.
"I can give you the commitment that the members of the armed forces would always stand by you," he said.
The seeds of vegetables are being distributed free of cost so that the farmers can produce cash crops to cope up with their economic losses from the floods. He said the floods should be faced unitedly as the people did in the past.
Area Commander of Bogra Maj Gen Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury, Brigadier General Emdadul Haq and Deputy Commissioner of Sirajganj district Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, among others, were present.
At a separate meeting in Faridpur this afternoon, the Army Chief said the country has suffered a huge damage of crops and infrastructures during the floods, but the people should not sit idle.
The general said the farmers should take new initiatives to grow fresh vegetables, where the government would provide seeds and fertilisers. He said the government has enough stocks of foodgrains and money for supporting the flood victims.
"None would be allowed to die of hunger," he said reminding all to keep transparency in the relief distribution. Please keep in mind that once you touched the fire, it would burn you, he said in an oblique reference to irregularities in the relief distribution.
General Moeen also visited the army-run 30-bed mobile hospital in the district and distributed relief materials among the victims.
General Officer Commanding of the 55 Infantry Division Major General Rafiqul Islam accompanied the four-star general during his visit.