The ongoing comprehensive initiatives under the guidance of Bangladesh army have ushered in a fresh hope to eradicate the century-old seasonal Monga by making the distressed people economically self-reliant in greater Rangpur. The initiatives include short-duration BRRI Dhan-33 variety T-Aman paddy farming, pisciculture in the canal of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP), providing training and employment to the unemployed youths in the garments sector, tree plantation and dairy projects. Officials concerned on Saturday told BSS that as per direction of Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Rangpur Area Commander and GOC of 66 Infantry Division Major General Syed Fatemy Ahmed Roomy in cooperation with the senior military and civil officials launched the projects. The army chief and officials first identified the prospects, possibilities and potentials of the poverty-prone area with a view to launching various feasible projects for bringing an end to the century-old monga and changing the fate of the economically backward people. As a part of the initiatives, the agro-related departments are involved in implementing the BRRI Dhan-33 farming with the help of the NGOs in 40,000 hectares land to harvest the same during the peak Monga hour for creating job opportunities to the farm labourers. Under a special action plan, the officials said, a total of 107,000 hectares of land suitable for farming BRRI Dhan-33 would be brought subsequently under BRRI Dhan-33 paddy farming by 2010 to harvest about five lakh tonnes of paddy during 115 to 118 days. And thus, 19 lakh farm labourers would get jobs by 2010 during Monga period when the land earmarked for cultivation would be brought under BRRI Dhan-33 farming and a total of 43 NGOs are working with the government to make the action plan successful. Besides, harvesting periods of all crops will be advanced by at least 40 days to enable farmers get more profits as farming of BRRI Dhan-33 would be followed by relay-method cultivation of early variety crops potato, mog, vegetables, maize and mustard. As per direction of Gen. Moeen, the army took pragmatic steps releasing fish fries in 109.7 km, out of the 119 km long main canal, of the TBP in Rangpur, Nilphamari and Dinajpur districts in July last year and in only nine months, a huge quantity of fishes were cultivated. Fish has been cultivated in 17 segments of the 109.7 km canal where 18,613 kg fish fries worth Taka 18.77 lakh were released in July last year involving 3,004 canal-side destitute beneficiaries including women for changing their fates, economical conditions and meeting their protein demands.