The Grainery of Bangladesh at Climate Risk
by Saifunnahar Sumi (Dhaka Bureau)
The Government of Bangladesh has stepped forward to support the people of the Haor region, known as one of the country’s primary granaries, which has been severely impacted by the effects of climate change. Policy-makers of the current government have pledged all-out assistance to ensure food security and improve the standard of living for farmers devastated by the loss of Boro crops due to heavy rains and flash floods.
During a high-level exchange meeting held on Tuesday (May 5) at the Sunamganj Circuit House, Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, Asadul Habib Dulu, MP, explicitly declared, ‘The government will do everything possible for the welfare of the Haor people.’
The Relief Minister announced that to overcome the crop losses, special humanitarian assistance will be provided to every affected farmer’s family for the next three months. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief is currently working on how to expand this program as part of a long-term plan. District officials have been strictly instructed to prepare accurate lists quickly, in consultation with local Members of Parliament, to ensure transparency in aid distribution.
As part of integrated management, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock, Aminur Rashid Yasin, highlighted a series of modern plans for the Haor region, including:
Integrated Haor Management: Planned excavation of Haors and construction of sluice gates to prevent flash floods.
Technological Support: Supply of specialized harvester machines suitable for harvesting paddy in waterlogged conditions.
Agricultural Inputs: Providing free rice seedlings, fertilizers, and easy-term agricultural loans to help affected farmers recover.
High-ranking government officials emphasized the preservation of the Haor region’s biodiversity. Dr. Rashed Al Titumir, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Planning, stated, ‘We must save the unique ecosystem of the Haor region. To ensure farmers do not face such disasters every year, we must find sustainable solutions using modern technology.’
The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, ABM Abdus Sattar, informed that the government is moving forward with a three-pronged plan- short, medium, and long-term to develop the Haor region and protect its biodiversity.
Following the meeting, the Minister for Disaster Management and Relief formally inaugurated the Prime Minister’s pledged three-month humanitarian assistance program at the Bishwambharpur Upazila Parishad Auditorium in Sunamganj. Through this initiative, thousands of affected farming families will come directly under the government’s safety net.
The meeting was presided over by the Acting Commissioner of Sylhet Division, Ashrafur Rahman, and attended by local Members of Parliament, political leaders, and senior administrative officials.
Experts view this special initiative in the Haor region as a crucial step for Bangladesh, a South Asian nation, in tackling the impacts of climate change.
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The Author:
Saifunnahar Sumi: Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
