A team from FAO Bangladesh led by Mr. Mike Robson, FAOR in Bangladesh along with Ms. Sultana Afroz, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), met Ms. Ismat Ara Sadique, Hon’ble State Minister, Ministry of Public Administration at the request of the State Minister, herself to discuss about the issue of waterlogging in South West region of Bangladesh on 18 February 2015.

Following a presentation by the study team leader, Dr Wais Kabir, former chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, and leader of the study team, FAO team members and the State Minister – who is personally connected to Keshabpur upazila of Jessore –engaged in a lively discussion for an extended period. 

The FAO presentation covered possible technologies to reduce the impact of waterlogging on food production and livelihoods; and recommended cross coordination among the relevant government agencies such as Local government, the LGED, the Bangladesh Water Development Board, BADC, Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Fisheries and others.   Trying to find innovative institutional mechanisms to address the issue was a major part of the discussion. 

The State Minister particularly appreciated information on the approaches needed to both prevent and cope with water-logging. She expressed high regards for FAO’s initiative – and welcomed the continuing support of interested development partners in this critical issue – and offered her full support to efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and coordinate efforts of the responsible institutions to help the people, who are affected by this recurring problem in years of heavy late monsoon rain.