Floods in 8 districts affect over 6 lakh people, rehabilitation top priority: Relief Minister

So far, more than 6 lakh people have been affected and 54 people have lost their lives in the severe floods caused by recent heavy rains and landslides in eight districts of the country. Although the situation has improved somewhat, the government is now giving top priority to the rehabilitation of the affected people along with rescue operations, said Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu.
He made the remarks to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting held at the PID Conference Room in the capital on Tuesday (July 14) to discuss the recent flood situation, emergency response and coordination in different regions of the country. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad and Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman Khan were present in the meeting.
The relief minister said that due to heavy rains and landslides, severe floods first occurred in the hilly areas of Chittagong division, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar and later in some parts of Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet. Various ministries of the government are working in a coordinated manner to deal with the situation. He said that 59 upazilas, 368 unions and 12 municipalities in eight districts of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions have been affected by the floods. So far, about 6 lakh 9 thousand 441 people have been affected.
54 people have died, most of whom lost their lives in landslides. Dulu said that Tk 1 crore 75 lakh and 3 thousand 250 tons of rice have already been allocated as emergency assistance to the affected areas. Dry food is also being distributed. An additional Tk 2 million has been allocated for each affected district from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
He said that in addition to providing cooked food to the shelters, the army, BGB and Coast Guard have been deployed in the rescue operation. Speedboats and rubber boats have been sent to the affected areas to assist in the rescue operation.
The relief minister said that now the water has started receding, the government’s main priority is rehabilitation activities. The assessment of damage to the agricultural sector is underway and assistance will be provided accordingly. The health ministry has made preparations to deal with post-flood diseases. The Roads and Highways Department, Local Government Department and Disaster Management Ministry will perform their respective responsibilities for the speedy repair of damaged roads. Unpaved roads will be repaired through the ‘Kabikha and Kabita’ program.
Asadul Habib Dulu said that the food ministry will continue the food assistance program in the affected areas. Referring to this year’s flood as one of the most severe floods in the Chittagong region in recent times, he said that the prime minister has held several meetings with the concerned officials and is monitoring the situation round the clock. Under the prime minister’s instructions, she will visit the affected areas from Wednesday. Today, she will leave for Chittagong.
Responding to the question of why there is no visible progress despite spending a huge amount of money and allegations of corruption in the waterlogging and dredging projects in Dhaka, the relief minister said that the government’s stance on corruption is ‘zero tolerance’. He said that what happened during the previous government’s tenure is a different matter. The current government does not tolerate any kind of corruption. The Prime Minister has clear instructions. Close monitoring is being carried out at the field level and necessary action will be taken if any irregularities are found.