Memorandum
Memorandum to Mr Ataur Rahman Khan, Chief Minister-1956
From: Major Ghani, MPA (Independent)
Comilla Date:
Memorandum to Mr Ataur Rahman Khan, Chief Minister, East Pakistan on the occasion of his visit to Comilla on the 2nd Dec'56 on behalf of the flood-stricken people of the district of Tipperah.
Sir,
I, as an independent representative of the public beg to bring before your kind notice the following grievances & problems of this district for your personal and immediate attention: -
(A) Gumati Problem:
Gumati as your know is a menace to the people of the Sadar south sub-division which has been working tremendous havoc for the last few years and it has brought in its train untold miseries & sorrows to the teeming millions. The Flood Control Department has taken up the responsibility to control this problem successfully by excavating two escape channel on either sides of the river and re-excavating other dead small tributaries & canals. If this scheme is implemented; it is expected that the people of Burichong, Kasba, Kotwali, Debidwar and other neighboring areas will be benefited & relieved of the constant fear of flood, consequent sorrows & sufferings. You are requested earnestly that this scheme should be given the top most priority and no financial or other considerations should stand in the way of the execution of the scheme within the 1st week of January next. As the Flood Control Engineer with his staff has been working very hard to complete their survey work which has almost been finished. I am hopeful about the implementation of the scheme in due time.
(B)
Shifting of the Divisional Irrigation Office
: -
As our District is worst affected by
flood every year, there are about sixty irrigation scheme s to be worked out.
It is, therefore, essential to have the irrigation office located at Comilla.
But it is very much disappointing to say that due to some undue political
pressure this office is being shifted to Feni where two sub-divisional
Irrigation Offices are already functioning. You are requested to revise the
orders of your govt for that best interest of the people of this district to
retain the office here at Comilla, Your personal attention in this connection
is solicited.
(C) Ziratia Tenants.
The bordering people of this district
have large of cultivation lands in
(D) Grants to the Flood Affected Educational
Institutions.
The devastation floods of the last three years have caused great damages to the educational institutions of the Burichong & a considerable parts of Kotwali police stations. Adequate sum of money should be sanctioned towards the necessary repairs. Upkeep & maintenance of these Schools & Madrashas. Stipends should also be given to the poor deserving students for the prosecution of their studies.
(E) Payment
of Primary School Teachers.
It is very sad and shocking to the state that the primary school teachers of this district have not been receiving their pay regularly in time. Your kind attention is drawn towards it for the proper & permanent redress of these ill-Paid teachers of the man-making department.
(F) Cattle
loans to the Flood - Affected Cultivators.
The successive floods have taken a heavy toll of the cattle of the cultivators. Besides many of them were compelled to sell off their cattle due to dire need of necessity. As such. they are now quite helpless to cultivate their lands which are lying fallow. Sufficient cattle purchase loan should be given to them as early as possible to enable them to carry on their cultivation. The people of the flood affected area have got no purchasing capacity at all. As such they should be given loan and grants to purchase seeds and build their homestead.
SUGGESSTIONS: -
The whole population in the affected areas must be saved at all cost and all out efforts must be made from all concerned. Relief measures in cash or kind should be taken on emergency level:
i)
Full scale modifi ed rationing for
50% of the total population.
ii)
Cheap rate to be allowed to 25% & G. R. 25%.
iii)
T.R. scheme is to be carried out till monsoon sets in.
iV) Sufficient funds
should also be made available for cattle & seed loans. Provision should also
be made for
v) Payment of land
compensation needs special consideration. This may, please be taken up on
emergency basis. Since flood control has placed the money at your kind disposal
it will be really a great relief if they get the money when they need it most.
Vi) The entire five
miles border belt is deficient area & the people within it are the worst sufferers.
Due to restriction of movement of food grains within 5 miles border belt areas,
the distress of people knows no bounds.
Rice, paddy and food grain traders should be allowed to carry out their trade in normal way under the strict supervision of Food Deptt. Within the border belt other wise the border people will have to face endless miseries who are already groaning under the heavy burden of privations & sufferings.
I would, therefore request you to kindly redress the grievances
of the suffering of millions as early as
possible & save them from death & humiliation.
Signature
A. GHANI
Copy forwarded to:
(1) Mr. Kafiluddin Ahmad Choudhury, Minister-in
Charge:
C.B & I, with a request to kindly remember the promise given on the floor of the Assembly in connection with payment of Land Compensation.
(2) Mr. Monsur Ali, Minister -in-charge food, with a request to kindly declare 9 unions of Burichong as emergency Area.
(3) To withdraw the restriction from the border Food Grain Traders & allow them to carry on their trade in normal way.