Speakers demand immediate TRM in Bhabadah belt

Speakers at a discussion on 'Government initiatives to solve water logging in Bhabadah area and peoples demand' yesterday urged the government to re-introduce 'Tidal River Management' (TRM) system in the areas of Jessore district by resolving existing disputes and defusing public agitation.

Four non-government organisations-Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori, BELA and Pragati Samaj Kallayan Sangstha (PSKS) organised the discussion at the VIP room of the Jatiya Press Club here.

Chaired by the Chief Executive of BELA Advocate Rezwana Hassan, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Executive Director of ALRD Shamsul Huda, Deputy Chief Reporter of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Madhusudan Mondal, Chairman of Mohoharpur Union
Parishad of Monirampur Upazila Mostafa Mohituzzaman, former Chairmen of Paira and Sundali Unions Bishnu Pada Dutta and Bikash Chandra Mallick, local Awami League leader Ruhul Amin, Workers Party leader Nazim Uddin, journalist Moinul Haq and local primary teacher Nripendra Nath Biswas.

Eminent researcher Dr Abul Hossain presented the keynote paper on the problems, issues, public opinions, demands and expectations of the area.

The speakers elaborately discussed on the issues of long standing water logging problems in Monirampur, Avaynagar and Keshabpur upazilas and demanded re-introduction of the TRM system in Beel Kapalia and later on other beels of the area for permanent removal of water logging from the areas.

They also demanded immediate and unconditional payment of their lease money for the lands of Beel Kapalia and withdrawal of cases filed by police against several thousand people that was initiated after an attack on Abdul Wahab, MP, a Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad and Upazila Chairman of Avaynagar M A Malek.

They also urged the government to form a co-ordination committee comprising the representatives of all sectors to supervise and monitor the project implementation process in future.

The speakers called upon the government to prepare and implement a master plan for a permanent solution of the water logging problem in the country's south-western region.