“That the flood affected regions of the haor areas would be wiping out food resources for thousands of people was a well known fact. This isn’t the first time it has happened in Bangladesh. Yet, we find that for residents of many upazilas including Bishwambarpur, entire families have to travel inordinate distances to get to Open Market Sale (OMS) points only to find that supplies finished before they arrived. Points selling OMS rice and flour have not been adequately stocked for the relief operations that come when floods wipe out normal food stocks of communities and we are at a loss to understand why the concerned ministry did not take steps as the flood was unfolding over the last few weeks.”
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