Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Barrister Kayser Kamal today spoke at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 17, 2026 (BSS) - Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Barrister Kayser 
Kamal today called on the government to form a special taskforce to identify 
the real problems of the country's haor region, stressing that there is no 
alternative to long-term, sustainable and coordinated initiatives to protect 
the lives and livelihoods of the people living there.

Kamal made the call while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled 
"Haor Disaster: Relevance of the Book 'Chashabhushar Shontan' and the Way 
Forward", organised by the Netrokona Journalists' Forum, Dhaka, at the 
Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.

The seminar discussed in details the natural disasters in the haor region, 
the struggles of farmers, sustainable embankment management, the impacts of 
climate change and development planning.

The Deputy Speaker said, "I am a son of the haor. I was born and brought up 
in the middle of the haor region. Since childhood, I have closely witnessed 
the sufferings, struggles and deprivation of the people there. Our farmers 
continuously fight natural disasters and contribute significantly to the 
national economy. Yet, since independence, very few effective and sustainable 
initiatives have been taken for the haor region."

He added that discussions on haors emerge only after disasters occur, while 
permanent solutions require research-based planning and practical 
initiatives.

Referring to the book "Chashabhushar Shontan" authored by Mohammad Mufazzal, 
he said the publication vividly portrays the realities of the haor region, 
the struggles of its people and the multidimensional impacts of disasters. 
Such research-based books, he said, could play an important role in 
policymaking and raising public awareness.

Alleging irregularities in fish farming in the haor areas, Kayser Kamal said 
a section of dishonest people was occupying haor resources through the so-
called leasing system, depriving genuine fishermen of leases.

"Large pits are being dug in the wetlands to create ponds, obstructing the 
natural flow of water. As a result, farmers are suffering immensely and have 
long been subjected to neglect and exploitation," he said.

The Deputy Speaker also noted that farmers in the haor region do not receive 
fair prices for their produce and cannot catch fish due to the leasing 
system.

"I myself am a witness to these injustices and inequalities," he added.

He stressed the need for effective water management, science-based research, 
development of technology suitable for early seed plantation and preparation 
of accurate lists of genuinely affected people for the development of the 
haor region.

Kayser Kamal said the country has been run within a fixed framework since 
independence and obstacles exist at every step, urging all to work together 
in unity.

Md Anwarul Haque, MP (Netrakona-2), noted writer and economist Professor Anu 
Muhammad, Shahidullah Farayezi, along with journalists, researchers, writers, 
intellectuals and people associated with the haor region, attended the 
seminar.

Presided over by Netrakona Journalists Forum president Rafique Ahmed, the 
event was moderated by its general secretary Shawkat Ali Khan Litho.

The speakers at the seminar called for coordinated initiatives to protect the 
lives and livelihoods of people in the haor region.