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All-out rescue, relief operations mount

PM visits deluged areas today


Published : 20 Jun 2022 10:00 PM | Updated : 21 Jun 2022 04:19 PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard and local administrations for making all-out combined efforts to lessen people's sufferings and protect their lives and properties in the greater Sylhet region in the wake of devastating flood.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inspect the overall flood situations of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona districts on Tuesday.

Around 600 shelter centers have been opened for flood-affected people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. A large number of people also took shelter there.

Bangladesh Army opened toll-free emergency number for providing any kind of support to flood-affected people, said army officials.

According to the government sources, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) opened emergency control room for providing urgent medical services to the flood-hit people.

Monitoring teams and medical boards have also been formed for keeping constant surveillance on flood situation in the areas.

Talking to the Bangladesh Post over phone, Captain Md Asraf Ahmed of 34 BIR, Jalalabad Cantonment, who is currently Camp Commander of Gowainghat Army Camp in Sylhet in the flood-affected area for conducting rescue operation of Bangladesh Army said, “Our main focus was to save the lives of the distressed people. As part of our main focus, we have rescued a lot of helpless people from different risky places.”

He further said, “We recused several elderly people and children and shifted them to the safe multi-storied building.”

Captain Asraf, said, “We also tried to supply dry food items to the extremely vulnerable people. I found many people who were starving for three days.”

Responding to another question of this correspondent, the army officer said, “We are also providing medical services as many people have been suffering from various diseases due to the flood.

On Sunday, “We, in association with local administration, transported 44 tonnes of rice here for the flood-hit people of to 12 unions. It was given by the government,” he described.

“I am receiving dozens of phone calls from abroad inquiring their family members in flood affected areas,” he stated.  

Apart from the government's rescue operations and relief programme, Awami League leaders and workers continue the rescue operation and relief programme in the affected areas. They have been providing dry food, water purifying tablets, necessary medicines and oral saline as well as cooked foods to the helpless flood victims.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already instructed the authorities concerned to cut the roads if necessary to ensure quick removal of floodwater from the flood-hit region.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday urged all to stay by the side of the flood victims during this disastrous period.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman and Secretary of the ministry Md Kamrul Hasan are currently in Sylhet.

The government has already allocated Taka 2.25 crore cash, 400 metric tonnes of rice and 41,000 packets of dry and other foods as immediate humanitarian aid to deputy commissioners of flood-hit districts between June 15 and 18, said a press release on Saturday.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities concerned to do everything needed to rescue the marooned people and reach relief materials to them. The Army has been deployed for the rescue operation.

“The leaders and activities of the ruling party Awami League are working in the flood-affected areas alongside the local administrations,” he said.

“A Chhatra League leader died while working in the flood-hit areas,” he added.

Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, AL presidium member said, “Awami League leaders and activists are delivering food to the flood-affected people.”

“Awami League works more, speaks less. That is our standard,” he added.

He further said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not sleep at night thinking the sufferings of the flood-hit people. She has instructed all agencies including Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard to stand by the flood-affected people. She has also instructed the party leaders and activists to help the distressed people.

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has continued its various service activities to deal with the disastrous flood situation in the northeastern part of the country including Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona due to heavy rain, said ISPR. On Monday, relief materials were delivered to the flood-hit people in remote areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj by BAF helicopter and a transport aircraft in remote areas. 

On the same day, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali flew to Sylhet, Sunamganj area by a BAF helicopter to monitor the overall flood situation.

Earlier, in a press briefing held at Air Force Base Bashar in the capital Dhaka, Acting Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Md. Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters about the ongoing activities of BAF and its future plans during the current flood situation in Sylhet

He said BAF has always been playing a leading role in dealing with various natural calamities and assisting the affected people since its inception. 

It may be mentioned that two BAF helicopters have been kept ready at the BAF station at Shamsernagar in Moulvibazar to distribute relief items and conduct rescue operations in a short time. In addition, task forces and medical teams have been formed at various bases of the BAF who will be able to assist the local administration.

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