'Introduce FWP to ensure food for Vabodaho people'

They said about one million people of Vabodaho situated in the districts of Jessore, Khulna and Satkhira have been remaining waterlogged for years but there is no sign of improvement in their lives due to greediness of some unscrupulous people and negligence of the government as well as political parties.

They further said water stagnates in their houses, agricultural lands, educational institutions, the mosques and temples for years. Poor farmers pass days in hunger, as they do not have jobs to do. Crores of Taka has been spent that benefited some engineers, contractors and political leaders but not the waterlogged people.

Nagorik Sanghati organised the rally in front the Public Library near Shahbagh intersection in the city yesterday. Members of some environmentalist and socio-cultural organisations joined the programme to express their solidarity with their programme. In a unique protest, they put empty plates in front them to symbolise hungry people.

Speakers observed that some steps are taken ahead of the election to get votes but all these actions only exacerbate people's miseries.

They also said though the problem has been prevailing for years, the governments did not stand by the people in misery considering the interests of illegal shrimp traders.

Presided over by Engineer Sarder Amin, the rally was also addressed by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon Joint Secretary Mihir Biswash, Nagorik Sanghati General Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif, Green Voice Coordinator Alamgir Kabir, Shukriti Mandon and Advocate Abul Kalam Azad.