Char has immense potential for our agriculture & economy: Zaheed Farooque

State Minister for Water Resources ZaheedFarooque said,Charanchal(char area) is a large part of Bangladesh surrounded by many rivers. The rivers collect silt and create new land which we call char. Most of the poor living in chars were deprived of basic necessities. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, has undertaken a sustainable project to improve the living standards of the people of Charanchal by 2041 BS. The project aims to reduce the hunger and poverty of the people living in the coastal chars. Char has a large population and vast fertile land. Char has immense potential for our agriculture and economy. Address of landless people. Work on the project continues with financial and technical support from the Government of the Netherlands and IFAD.

He was speaking at a workshop titled “New Land, New Life” at the Long-term Impact of the Char Development and Settlement Project and Strategic Planning for a launch to the book at the Multipurpose Hallroomof PaniBhaban in the capital Wednesday. The guests unwrapped the book “New Land, New Life”.

State Minister ZaheedFarooque said the people of the char areas will not be deterred by the tide of development that is flowing across the country under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the southern part of Bangladesh, especially in Noakhali, through Char Development and Settlement Projects-1, 2, 3, and 4, extensive char development and land settlement activities were undertaken from 1994 to 2018 through the Ministry of Land. In the meantime, overall development of 1 lakh 22 thousand 83 hectares of land has been achieved through these projects. 1 lakh 44 thousand 145 landless families affected by river erosion have been rehabilitated. 6 lakh 61 thousand 538 people benefited under this project.

The state minister said tackling the effects of climate change was essential for sustainable development. For this, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken up the centenary plan. About 80 percent implementation of the Delta Plan is the responsibility of the Ministry of Water Resources. The government is working like a developed country to address the risks of climate change. Coastal people, backward people are working for the betterment of the people.

The project consists of Bangladesh Water Development Board, Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Public Health Engineering, Forest Department, Ministry of Land and Department of Local Government Engineering. It received financial support from the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of the Netherlands for the first three phases of the project. Through the project, Char is being transformed into a green farm. The fifth phase of the project is expected to be completed in June 2024.