Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1135 Wed. August 08, 2007  
   
Front Page


Flood Relief
Govt sanctions Tk 11cr from CA's fund


The government on emergency basis yesterday allocated Tk 11 crore from the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund for the people of 15 flood-hit districts.

Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury disclosed it at a regular press briefing on the latest flood situation in the country in the conference room of the Chief Adviser's Office.

The districts receiving special allocation are Sirajganj Tk 1.5 crore, Kurigram Tk 1.5 crore, Bogra 50 lakh, Gaibandha Tk 1 crore, Pabna Tk 50 lakh, Tangail Tk 50 lakh, Manikganj Tk 1 core, Jamalpur Tk 1 crore, Faridpur Tk 50 lakh, Rajbari Tk 50 lakh, Shariatpur Tk50 lakh, Netrokona Tk 50 lakh, Sunamganj Tk 50 lakh, Magura Tk 50 lakh and Jhenaidah Tk 50 lakh.

The adviser said the emergency allocations were given on the basis of percentage of the flood-affected people, severity of the floods and the extent of poverty in the 15 districts.

"This is supplementary allocation and new allocation will be given gradually to other flood-affected districts," he said.

Replying to a question, the adviser said the allocations from the CA's Relief Fund are being sent quickly so that relief operation is not hampered for lack of money.

Various government and private institutions and organisations and individuals have so far donated a total of around Tk 11 crore directly to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed's Relief and Welfare Fund for the flood victims.

The water levels of Brahmanputra and the Jamuna rivers have fallen remarkably in some parts of the country, particularly Chilmari, Sirajganj and Aricha. However, the water levels of Padma, Meghna and Dhaleshswari as well as some rivers around Dhaka and Narayanganj in the country's central part are increasing slowly.

It has been informed that flood situation in Dhaka and Narayanganj "may deteriorate".

Lt Commander Hassan of the Armed Forces Division and Chief Adviser's Flood Monitoring and Coordination Cell made a presentation on the latest flood situation, casualties, relief operation, river positions and damage to property by the floods.

In the briefing, it was informed that death toll from various flood-related incidents rose to 164 while the flood situation improved in Chuadanga out of 39 affected districts

Health Secretary AKM Zafarullah, who was present at the briefing, said 2,162 medical teams are working in the flood-affected upazilas and there is adequate stock of necessary medicines.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim and Disaster Management Secretary Dhiraj Malakar were also present at the briefing.