PM assures support to cyclone-hit people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday distributed relief materials among the cyclone-affected people reiterating that her government and the Awami League party will stand by them as long as they need assistance to rebuild their lives.  

“We are beside you, will remain there and provide all kinds of assistance that is needed,” she told the crowd.

The prime minister was addressing a relief distribution programme at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College in Kalapara of Patuakhali organised by the district administration.

She mentioned that the overall development of this southern region was possible only because the Awami League has been in power with people's mandate. “Many came to power before us, but they did not take up any development activities for this region.”

She once again said that improving the living standard of the people has been the main aim of the government.

“Natural calamities will come, but we have to face those to reach our goal of maintaining the living standard of the people," she said. "We are working on this."

She said this time the tidal waves were much higher compared with what happened during previous cyclones. She thanked the people for coming to the cyclone shelters that were built by the government.

Sheikh Hasina said that the Awami League government is doing whatever is needed to ensure the basic needs of the people.

She said the government is standing beside the people in this natural calamity as the country is blessed with continued democracy.

“The socioeconomic development is happening in the country as non-stop democracy has been prevailing in the country.”

Presided over by Kalapara Awami League Vice-President Nirmal Nandi, the event was also addressed by State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibbur Rahman, Awami League Joint Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, and Organising Secretary Afzal Hossain also spoke.

Earlier, the prime minister distributed relief materials among the victims of Cyclone Remal in the area. The relief distribution programme was held at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College by the district administration.

She flew by helicopter over the Mathbaria and Pathorghata areas in Patuakhali to get a bird's eye view of the devastation caused by this week's cyclone.

The helicopter carrying the prime minister landed at the helipad adjoining Khepupara Govt Model Secondary School in Kalapara around 12:20pm after around one and a half hours of ride from Dhaka.

Mathbaria and Pathorghata in Kalapara were among the hardest-hit areas when the cyclone roaring from the Bay of Bengal hit the Bangladesh coast on Sunday.

The prime minister's helicopter at some points flew just above the ground so she could have a better view of the damages caused by the cyclone that triggered tidal surges and torrential rains washing away embankments, fish farms, felling houses and trees along the coast.

It also left at least 16 people dead and many injured amid a huge evacuation of people to cyclone shelters in an operation constantly monitored by the prime minister from Dhaka.

After the relief distribution, she visited the Shaheed Sheikh Kamal Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata Road.

The prime minister later sat with the divisional-level officials to review the relief operation and assess the immediate rehabilitation needs of the affected people.