Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday announced food assistance to the flood-affected families of Bangladesh for the next three months until the next crops are harvested. She also said the government will do everything possible to ensure their food, healthcare and other necessities.
“Food assistance to the flood-affected people will continue for three months until the harvesting of the next crops. Arrangements have been made so that flood-affected people get food, and this will continue,” she said.
The prime minister made the announcement while addressing a rally arranged at Dinajpur Zila School Shelter Centre marking the distribution of relief materials among the flood victims of the region.
Sheikh Hasina is now visiting Dinajpur and Kurigram to see for herself the condition of the flood victims of the two northern districts.
The prime minister distributed relief goods among the flood-stricken people now in shelter in Dinajpur Zila School Shelter Centre at Dinajpur Sadar and Teghara High School Shelter Centre at Farkkabad Union of Birol sub-district of the northern district.
Mentioning that the government has been providing rice at 10 taka per kg among 5mn families, she categorically said relief materials will reach all the flood-affected people. “Please trust us,” she said.
Hasina said the government has started importing food grains from abroad and there is an adequate stock of food in Bangladesh as well. She said the government will rehabilitate flood-affected families who lost their homes and shelters. “No one will remain homeless in the country, while the government will ensure food for all.”
The prime minister said it is her responsibility to ensure homes for every citizen and the government of Awami League has been working to provide homeless poor with houses on vacant government lands. She said step has also been taken to again provide books to the students who lost their books during the flood.
Pointing to possible outbreak of various waterborne diseases after recession of flood water, she directed the health ministry and officials concerned to remain alert about it and work in a coordinated manner so that such situation could not arise.
About relief distribution activities, she said various government agencies, leaders and workers of Awami League are working to keeping in mind the needs of the respective areas.
The leaders are moving to every single affected area of the region to ascertain the needs of the people there and give them necessary assistance and support, she added.
Hasina told the rally that her government has taken every step to lessen the sufferings of the people as well as loss of property. Terming Bangladesh as a disaster-prone country, Hasina urged people to rely on her government saying it is her responsibility to stand beside the people of Bangladesh as long as she is alive whenever any disaster comes.
She also requested people to have patience and said like her father Bangabandhu she had also dedicated her life to bringing smile to the faces of poor people. She also directed non-government organisations
(NGOs) working in the region not to oppress the poor who had taken loans them as they have been affected by the devastating floods.
Sheikh Hasina then went to Teghora High School Shelter Centre of Forokkabad Union and distributed relief materials among the flood-affected people of the region. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister urged the rich to come forward with whatever they have to help the flood-affected people.
After the flood, Hasina said, her government will give collateral-free loan for sharecroppers in the future, while it will provide support to the people who lost their houses in riverbank erosion.
Hasina distributing relief materials yesterday.
