59 upazilas affected, 14 die in floods
The government has taken all out measures to evacuate people affected by floods along with relief operation on a massive scale in the flood hit 59 upazilas in 16 districts, said disaster management and relief minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.
“The government has taken early precautionary measures apprehending that 18 to 21 districts are likely to be affected by floods .....the disaster management activities would continue till rehabilitation of the flood affected people”, Maya said while briefing the newsmen on flood situation at the Department of Disaster Management and Relief in city’s Mahakhali area today, Saturday.
According to the official report so far 14 people have died and a total of 3,93,496 families have been affected due to onslaught of floods.
The government, meanwhile, released Tk 5.50 crore and 13000 tonnes of rice for the flood affected districts.
Under relief operation, the government has released 13000 packets of dry food out of total allocation of 18000 packets along with cash and food grains for the flood affected districts, he said.
Besides, Tk 5 lakh has been earmarked for each of the flood affected districts and the concerned district administrations can instantly send dry food for the people if new incidents of floods occurred.
A total of 69 flood shelter centres and 346 medical camps have been set up at the flood affected areas, said the minister, adding that the concerned deputy commissioners and other flood officials have been asked to help the affected people to reach the flood shelters.
High officials from the concerned ministry and directorate would be sent to the flood affected districts from tomorrow and they will stay and supervise entire relief operations in the affected districts till recession of flood waters.
Maya said the concerned Disaster Managements and Relief Ministry are carrying out relief and rehabilitation work in line with the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-every affected will be ensured with relief and other assistances.
The districts so far affected by floods are Sirajgang, Bogra, Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Rajbari, Tangail, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Manikganj and Rajshahi.
Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Mohammad Shah Kamal, Director General of the Department of Disaster Management Riaz Ahmed and Joint Secretary Khalid Hasan were present in the press briefing.