They also demanded comprehensive plan for haor development and steps to streamline the activities of Haor and Wetland Development Board.

The press conference was organised by Nagorik Sanghati at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium in the city yesterday.

While reading out a written statement, eminent software developer Mustafa Jabbar said although haor region, lying mostly in 48 upazilas in seven North Eastern districts of the country, provides most of the corns and fishes, no effective measure has been taken for development of this region since independence.

Successive governments hardly took any action to save the corns from untimely floods and draught or to protect the region from shrinking of its fisheries resources in its water-bodies, said Mustafa Jabbar.

Depicting a deplorable condition of the educational institutions and transport system of haor region, Jabbar demanded bigger allocation of budget for education, health and communications sectors of the region.

As the economic condition of haor people is dependent on rice production and fishing, he urged the government to take effective measure to protect their fields from untimely flood or draught.

Former director general of Haor and Wetland Development Board Engr Enamul Huque, Prof ASM Atiqur Rahman of Institute of Social Welfare of Dhaka University, General Secretary of Nagorik Sanghati and a farmer from Netrakona Nikhil Chandra Dutta were also present at the programme.