A flood-affected haor woman meets Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a relief distribution programme in Netrokona's Khaliajuri yesterday. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday declared that farmers in flood-affected haor areas would get fresh agricultural loans with the interest rate halved to 4.5 percent.

She reiterated a government decision allowing farmers to defer repaying current loans till the next harvest and said the government would also help diversify their livelihoods.

She was addressing a public meeting at the Khaliajuri Degree College grounds in Netrakona prior to distributing relief among flood victims. She arrived in the morning on a helicopter to see the situation for herself.

All necessary protective measures will be taken and none will suffer from a lack of food and shelter as Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) activities will continue alongside that of Open Market Sale (OMS) in haor areas, she said.

"Now we have a sufficient stock of food and if necessary we will import more food from abroad," she said, adding that the government was taking VGF rice to unions at its own cost.