Haor dev office lying idle for year

The regional office of the Directorate of Haor and Wetland Development at Shologhar in Sunamganj town has hardly seen any work due to manpower crisis since its inauguration over a year ago.

Only three daily basis employees -- a personal assistant, an office assistant and a night guard are working after the regional office was inaugurated on February 28 last year, said office sources.

The ground and first floors of the three-storey office building are meant for office activities while the second floor is used as a rest house.

This correspondent during a recent visit found the main gate of the building locked. After sometime, office assistant Yasin Sheikh came down from the top floor.

“We have no work other than taking care of the building. Occasionally we become busy when officials come here from Dhaka,” he said.

Often drug addicts enter inside the boundary and give threat if they are asked to leave, said Abbas Mia, night guard of the office.

Freedom fighter Bazlul Majid Chowdhury, convener of 'Haor Bachao, Sunamganj Bachao Andolon', said, “Most of the haors of the country are in Sunamganj district. But unfortunately, the regional office is yet to start programmes for solving problems of the people of haor areas and improving the quality of their life.”

Mujibur Rahman, director general of the Directorate of Haor and Wetland Development, said the directorate is running with only seven persons including four officers.

“In July last year, recommendation for 71-strong manpower for the directorate was sent to the Ministry of Public Administration and it was approved. After the recruitment of necessary manpower, the directorate's work will begin in full swing this year,” he added.