The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman Saturday reiterated his demand for the release of party president Sheikh Hasina so that she could stand beside the cyclone-hit people. "Had our party chief Sheikh Hasina been freed, she would have extended her all-out cooperation to the cyclone victims as she did in the past," he told reporters at his Gulshan residence in the afternoon.

Expressing sympathy for the families of those died in the devastating cyclone, Zillur said the victims should immediately be provided with shelter and food, while the injured be given proper medical treatment. Zillur urged the government to take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of the cyclone victims and said the affected farmers and fishermen be provided with cash and kinds, including fertilizer, pesticides and power pumps free of cost.

He also urged the government to provide fresh farm loans to the cyclone-hit people, writing off their existing loans.

Zillur also called upon the party leaders and workers to stand by the cyclone victims.

He said a medical team of Swadhinata Chikitswak Parisad has already left for Barisal to provide medical services to the survivors of the cyclone.

Besides, an Awami League relief team, headed by former party lawmaker KM Jahangir, would visit the affected coastal areas.