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CPB demands white paper on flood control spending

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) yesterday termed the current flood control strategy erroneous and demanded of the government to publish a white paper on expenditures since 1990 on river erosion prevention.
"About Tk 12,000 crore has been spent in the last 14 years. But people received no benefit as the money was spent incorrectly, " CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said in a written statement at a press conference held in the party office.
Selim said the flood control strategy adopted on flawed suggestions of donors and pursued by the present and past governments has been proved to be entirely ineffective.
"The strategy of building embankments to protect certain areas from flood is not the right approach. What the governments
should have done is to dredge big rivers on a regular basis," the CPB leader maintained.
On flood protection strategy, CPB leader Prof M M Akash said, "As a flood-prone and lower riparian country of the subcontinent, Bangladesh should go for an 'open flood control' system like regular dredging of rivers and interconnecting water bodies to facilitate unhindered flow of flood water."
"But the 'cordon approach' [currently pursued in the country] like building dams and embankments in certain areas would never bring any positive result, " the professor observed.
The communist party also asked the government to act immediately to save the water bodies in and around the city from the land grabbers.
Selim lambasted the government for spending crores of taka for beautification of the capital when the city dwellers are suffering from post-flood hazards including the mosquito menace.
The CPB leader claimed the relief provided by the government was not only inadequate, it failed to reach a large number of the flood victims.
The party demanded for continuing the Vulnerable Group Feeding programme until the next harvest season.
CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan said Bangladesh should start dialogues with the neighbouring countries immediately to formulate and agree on a regional co-operation on flood control.
Party leaders Ruhin Hossain Prince and Samsuzzaman Selim were also present in the conference.