Dhaka: Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Md. Tazul Islam said that besides flood damage, it is a blessing for our country. "It's true that the floods have taken a heavy toll on us, but if we don't flood again in a year, the water level in our region will go down by 5 feet," he said. Which is a threat to us, he added.
The LGRD minister made the remarks while participating in a live program titled "Ministry of Local Governments" on Tuesday (August 11) night, organized by Barta24.com regarding preparations to meet the post-flood and post-Corona challenges. In a live program conducted by Barta24.com's Senior Correspondent Shahjahan Mollah, the minister answered various questions about the flood situation and Corona situation in the country.
Regarding the flood situation, the local government minister said, "If there is no flood in this area then our water level will go down by about five feet." If the water doesn't come in a year, it's a big threat to us.
The minister said it is true that flood caused damages but there is a contribution of floods behind green Bangladesh.
So do you want the flood to be a blessing for our country? In response to such a question, the Local Government minister said, "Definitely." If there is no flood, there will be no water here. This terrain was created as soon as the silt came. If this area is not recharged, there will be no crops. There will be no water in the canal or in any water bodies. We are not getting water through deep tube wells as we are getting now. Our soil is built of silt. So while there are good aspects of the flood, there will also be some challenges.
How ready is the LGRD ministry to face the next challenge of floods and Corona?
In response to such a question, the minister said that the scope of work of the Local Government ministry extends to the last roots of the village. This organization has to be ready for various disasters.
The people's representatives under the ministry of Local Government have a close relationship with the people. For that reason it is absolutely advantageous to work at the grassroots level. This time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made arrangements to feed the people whose income has stopped in the Corona pandemic. The responsibility of implementing those relief activities has fallen in the hands of the local government people's representatives. There have been some irregularities but extremely low in number. The ministry of Local Government is responsible for distributing relief items. They are actually capable institutions. Union parishads, Zilla parishads, Pourashavas and city corporations have the capacity to work extensively. Because people have a close relationship with the people's representatives, for good reason they know where the problems are and how to solve them. As a result, they can do the right thing as soon as the responsibility falls on them.
However, due to our social system, we have noticed a tendency for people to get involved in this process (embezzlement of relief). I have tried to control this matter strictly since I became the minister. Thanks to those who did a good job. Legal action has been taken against those who have committed evil deeds, they have been arrested, they have been dismissed.
"We have a lot of challenges ahead of the floods and the Corona," he said. However, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we will turn around. The people of our country are extremely hard working. With the right leadership, they can deal with anything. We have many challenges, but we are a lucky nation to have a leader like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Since the whole nation is united under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we will do better than many developed countries.
Why are people not going to follow hygiene rules? Has there been any distance between the people and the people's representatives? To such a question, the Local Government minister said, it is not only in the case of Bangladesh. People in countries with a per capita income of 60,000 dollars are not able to do the right thing. Moreover, the media will not support doing anything oppressive on people. That is why we have to be aware. Moreover, the incidence of coronavirus is less in the villages.
Many people's representatives are involved in relief activities? How is the work being done in the places where the people's representatives have been dismissed? To such a question, the minister said, we want accountability. And the source of accountability is punishment. Whoever he is, he has to be held accountable. People abuse opportunities for natural reasons.
He said where the dismissal has taken place, there will be no vacuum. Moreover, if corruption is proved against someone in the final report, he should be dismissed permanently. In that case, where there is no public representative, we can appoint the acting mayor or chairman or administrator according to the law. The law has that provision.