Four of haor department’s five top officials are on a trip abroad

As people in haor areas suffer from persistent floods and their harvests have been ruined, four of the Haor and Wetland Development Department’s five top officials, including the director general, are on a trip abroad.

This became known after media reports on the apparent indifference of Netrokona officials to the suffering of flood victims stirred outrage.

The haor officials are currently in Canada as part of a delegation from the water resources department on a government program, said Acting Deputy Director (Agriculture and Fisheries) Md Nurul Alam.

The officials, who have been on the trip since Apr 18, are Haor and Wetland Development Department Director General Md Mojibur Rahman, Director (Administration & Finance) Nurul Amin, Director (Wetlands) Md Ruhul Amin and Deputy Director (Administration and Finance) Mohammad Nazmul Ahsan.

Thousand of families have been affected by the heavy rains that began in early April and has caused flooding and damage to Boro paddies in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Netrakona haors.

The rotting rice paddies have poisoned the waters, leading to the death of fish and waterfowl.

The Haor and Wetlands Development Department is tasked with protection of the region’s biodiversity, providing flood protection and developing its infrastructure.

According to the acting deputy director, the director general visited the affected areas prior to his trip.

“There has been no problem making decisions regarding the current situation in the haors due to the official trip,” Md Nurul Alam said.

“This is the digital age. We are always in contact with the DG and are continuing our action plan to help assess the damage and help those in need in haor areas.”

All the necessary work is being done by 30 of the department’s officials and employees, he added.