More aid from local firms, organisations

A number of organisations, institutions and business houses came up with donations or launched relief operation for the cyclone affected people yesterday.
Caritas started distributing emergency food and non-food items worth Tk 10 crore among 23,500 families in the worst hit areas of 21 upazials in nine districts, said a press release of the voluntary organisation.
Under its relief programme, Caritas is providing 460 tonnes of rice, 92 tonnes of pulse, 46 tonnes of salt and 23,500 litres of soybean oil to the affected families.
Besides, each of the families will get two pieces of plastic sheet, one bed sheet, one mosquito net, two blankets, one bucket, one plastic mug, two plates and two glasses.
Brac launched its emergency relief programme initially with Tk 7 crore in 2,537 villages in the 60 worst affected upazilas of 11 districts, according to a Brac release yesterday.
More than 2,500 Brac staff and 13 medical teams are providing round-the-clock relief and medical care to the victims.
Brac has so far distributed relief packets among 30,318 families. Each relief packet contained 10 kg of rice, two kg of lentil, two kg of potato, one kg of salt, 250 mg of oil and two packets of biscuit.
Thirteen Brac medical teams are working in the remotest areas to provide medical care to cyclone victims, and have already treated nearly 2,000 patients, the press release added.
Janata Bank has decided to donate Tk 1 crore to Chief Adviser's Relief Fund.
The money compromises honorarium of the Board of Directors for a meeting, one day's salary of the bank employees and contribution from individuals including clients to Janata Bank Flood Aid-2007.
Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd, a joint venture of Lafarge of France and Spanish cement producer Cementos Molins, yesterday donated Tk 1 crore to Chief Adviser's Relief Fund.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed received the cheque for Tk 1 crore at his office from Regional President for Lafarge operations in Asia Martin Kriegner and Jose Maria Fontdecaba of Cementos Molins. Managing Director of Lafarge Surma Cement Mike Cowell was also present.
The Relief Cell of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday handed over 6,000 kg of rice and pulses to the Disaster Management Committee for the cyclone-affected people.
The cell is operating under the supervision of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr SMA Faiz at the Teachers Students Centre (TSC) of the university.
A good number of teachers, students and employees on behalf of the relief cell are collecting rice, pulse and flour from residents of the campus and its adjacent areas for the cyclone victims.
The VC said anyone willing to donate cash can contact his office.
Provost of Amar Ekushe Hall of Dhaka University (DU) Akhter Hossain Khan, on behalf of the students, donated Tk 50,000 to the DU relief cell yesterday, says a press release.
Meanwhile, Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) decided to donate Tk 3 lakh to the cyclone-affected people from its relief fund.
The decision came at an emergency meeting chaired by acting DUTA President Prof Tajmeri SA Islam.
Three teams will leave for the cyclone-hit areas to distribute relief materials among the affected people.
Jagannath University has started distributing relief materials worth Tk 10 lakh among the cyclone-affected, said a press release.
It will distribute 1,400 packets, each containing rice, lentil, oil, potato, salt, spices, oral saline and drinking water.
National University (NU) has decided to distribute relief materials worth Tk 2 lakh initially.
Bagerhat branch of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd distributed relief materials among 650 affected families.
Old Rajshahi Cadets Association distributed relief materials among 275 families.
Besides, Left Democratic Alliance, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and Bangladesh Jubo Union continued relief operation.
Citycell distributed relief among the cyclone-affected people of Rampal, one of the worst affected areas in Bagerhat on November 19, says a press release.
The Citycell officials in cooperation with local authorities and Bangladesh Scouts, distributed rice, pulse, potato, salt and saline to 600 cyclone-affected families at three unions -- Rampal Sadar, Bashtoli Union, Ujolkur Union under Rampal Thana.
Citycell CEO Michael Seymour said Citycell stands firmly beside the cyclone-affected people in this moment of national crisis.
STATEMENTS
Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, Gono Sanghati Andolan, Bangladesh National Awami Party and some other organisations urged people of all walks of life to stand by the cyclone victims.