Sunamganj Correspondent:
The regional office of the ‘Haor and Wetland Development Directorate’ was inaugurated eight years ago in Haor-dominated Sunamganj district. But the company has not started any activities yet. Due to shortage of manpower, the activities of the institution are not starting, the concerned said.
In view of the demands of the people of Sunamganj, an initiative was taken to set up a regional office of this organization in the district. But people associated with the movement who have been vocal about the various demands of the Howars feel that there has been a kind of neglect of it since the beginning. They say that it was lying for four years after the construction of the building. After the inauguration, eight years have passed now. But there is no activity. Because of this, the expectations of the people of Hawar about this institution are not being fulfilled.
Sources of Sunamganj Water Development Board (PUBO) informed that the initiative to establish the regional office of Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Directorate in Haor district Sunamganj was taken in 2010. After that, under the supervision of Sunamganj Water Development Board, the construction of a building started at the place of Paubo in Sholghar area of ​​the city. One crore 85 lakhs was spent on the construction of this three-storied building. The construction of the building was completed in December 2012. Paubo wrote to the Directorate of Haor and Wetland Development to understand the building. But the building was taken over after four years. Then on February 28, 2016, the then Minister of Water Resources Anisul Islam Mahmud inaugurated this regional office. Eight years later, it still has no visible activity.
Recently visiting that office, it can be seen that the ground floor of the three-storey building built on the banks of the Surma river is half of the ground floor and the second floor is the office and the third floor is the guest house. Two rooms on the second floor are being used as offices as Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO), Sylhet District Office as there is no activity of the organization. Another room is being used by the Water Development Board. Two workers of the Directorate of Haor and Wetland Development are sitting in a room. They are Badiul Alam and Umair Hossain. Both are office assistants. Badiul has been there for one year and Umayer for four years. Talking to the two, it is known that they do not have any activities except looking after the office.
Those associated with Paubo and Haor movement say that this organization can play a role in protecting the nature, environment and biodiversity of Haor in Sunamganj and improving people’s quality of life. Apart from this, in the area of ​​Haor, Paubor does various works including digging the river, building dams to protect crops. A major project on flood management and livelihood improvement in Haor area is starting this year. Apart from this, the government is working in various ways for the development of Haor area and development of tourism. There is an opportunity to play a role in various ways including cooperation and supervision in these works from the regional office of the Haor and Wetland Development Department. But it is not possible because there is no activity of the organization. However, it is known that the representatives of this organization visited the site once during the construction of the crop protection dam for a couple of years.
Bijan Sen Roy, general secretary of the central committee of the ‘Haor Bachao Andolan’ organization, said in this context, we call Sunamganj the capital of Haor. Our demand was that the head office of the Howar Development Board should be here. But instead of that, the regional office has been established. But we are not getting any benefit from this either. Urgent steps need to be taken to make this institution operational by appointing the necessary manpower.
Executive Engineer of Sunamganj Paubo Md Mamun Howladar said that an official has seen the construction of Haor’s crop protection dam on behalf of this organization. It will play a special role in the development of Haor area when the activities of the institution are fully started.
Bangladesh Water and Wetland Development Directorate Deputy Director (Agriculture, Water and Environment) Noorjahan Khanam is on additional charge of Deputy Director of Sunamganj Regional Office. When asked about this, he said, mainly due to manpower crisis, the activities of this office cannot be fully started. Recruitment of manpower is going on centrally. When this is completed, the activities of the Sunamganj office will also start.
