Storm-hit farmers cry for help

Several hundred farmers in Domar upazila, who were hit by a nor'wester on May 10, formed a human chain and arranged a roadside meeting yesterday, urging the government to provide them help.

The speakers at the meeting at Bamunia Kachari Bazar area beside Domar-Chilahati road, urged the government to give them either free rice under vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme or sell rice to them at subsidised rate of Tk 10 per kg as they were passing their days unfed under the open sky.

They also demanded exemption of electricity bill used for running  irrigation pumps in Boro  season, and suspension of payment of installments of bank and  microcredit loans until next Aman harvesting was completed.

They also urged the government to supply them with seed, fertilizer and pesticide under agri-rehabilitation programme on emergency basis for cultivating upcoming Aman season.

Earlier, lawmaker from Nilphamari-1 constituency Aftabuddin Sarker, at a press conference, asked the government to declare Domar upazila a disaster-hit area.