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Development project ignores Teesta shoals in Nilphamari

People surprised, disappointed

OUR CORRESPONDENT, Nilphamari
Non-inclusion of Nilphamari district in the government's Char Jibikayan Project (livelihood project for shoal people) has created resentment among poor shoal people here.
The project designed to improve life of poor shoal people is financed by donor agency DFID of UK.
It includes programmes for income generating activities and vocational training, ensuring social security, development of communication, development of agriculture and marketing of agri-products, health care and supply of safe water.
The project will be implemented at a cost of Tk 500 crore funded by DFID.
It includes shoals in 149 unions in 28 upazilas of five districts --Bogra, Sirajgang, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Jamalpur-- affected by flood almost every year.
But it has not included shoals of Teesta river in Nilphamari, where thousands of ultra poor people are badly affected by flood every year.
This has surprised all classes of people and created a resentment in the district where most areas are severely affected by monga (a period before and after harvest when there is job crisis).
There are 18 small and big shoals in Teesta river in Dimal and Jaldhaka upazilas in the district, inhabited by about 50,000 people.
Of those, the big shoals like Chare Kharibari, East Kharibari, Ekotar Char, Fakroter Char, Chhatunama, Vendabari, Baish Pukur and Jhar Sinhaeswar are in five unions in Dimla upazila. Gopal Jhar, Char Vorot, Alsiar Char are in two unions in Jaldhaka upazila. Besides, there are some small shoals.
These shoals are the worst
affected by flood and monga every year and the people become the first victims but are deprived of all facilities. Even NGOs do not go there, thinking that the people are so poor that they would not be able to repay loans.
Deaths from diseases and intake of unwholesome food are common there. Pure water and sanitation is absent. Those shoals are isolated as there is no means for communication except boats during wet season.
Talking to this correspondent, Forhanul Islam, Nilphamari district secretary of Jatiotabadi Krishok Dal, ruling BNP's peasant forum, said people of Teesta shoals deserve to be on top of any development programme taken for shoals. Their deprivation need not be described anew. Anybody reading any newspaper knows.
He expressed his surprise how the ultra poor on the Teesta shoals were excluded from the government programme. He urged the government to include Nilphamari in the Char Jibikayan Project. Otherwise the motive would turn into a hoax, he said.
Advocate Akhkhoy Kumar Roy, president of district Krishok League, said it is a surprise how government officials excluded the worst affected shoal people in the country. It would be most unwise if the government does not reconsider the matter.
President of Nilphamari unit of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Sreedam Das alleged that non-inclusion of Teesta shoal people in the project proves how the purpose of a government project for the poor is lost due to whimsical attitude of a section of officials.
There can not be any reason for exclusion of Nilphamari from such a project, he said.
Chairman of Tepakharibari Union Parishad in Dimla, Haider Ali,
said he and UP leaders of other shoal areas will launch agitation if Nilphamari is not included in the government's Char Jibikayan Project.
When contacted, the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari, Rabindronath Roy Chowdhury said he will look into the matter.