The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The cyclone-devastated people in the worst hit areas of the coastal districts have started reorganising their lives amid severe shortage of food, drinking water and medicine.

Diarrhoea has already started spreading among the dehydrated survivors in an epidemic form, aid workers and journalists reported from the affected areas yesterday.

The urgently-needed supplies of food, water and medicine have started reaching people in remote areas of the most-battered districts, as many roads have now been cleared off hundreds of fallen trees that had blocked the movement of aid convoys.

"Relief finally starting to get through to the people in the most inaccessible areas where there were little or nothing to eat or drink for the last five days," a senior official said yesterday.

The super cyclone Sidr, which had hit 12 districts hard on the south and southwestern coast of the country battering the areas as it passed over from Thursday evening to Friday morning, left thousands of people dead and millions homeless. The storm had hit 34 of the country's 64 districts. Of these four districts-Patukhali, Barguna, Bagerhat and Pirojpur-took the worst knocking of the hurricane.

The dangerous cyclone shattered peoples' livelihood by destroying their homes, standing crops, shrimp firms, killing cattleheads, washing away fishing trawlers and boats.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, in an address to the nation, yesterday termed the catastrophe a 'national disaster', which pushed the country to a dangerous situation and hitting the economy hard following the consecutive all pervasive floods.

Appreciating the courage of the survivors, who are famed for managing to endure frequent floods and storms, he gave a clarion call to all irrespective of their political affiliations to join hands to help the affected people.

The Chief Adviser said at least four millions people were affected by the cyclone, which killed thousands.

Meanwhile, Housing and Public Works, Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein visited Barisal and Pirojpur and distributed relief among the affected people and encouraged them to reorganise their lives.

He returned to the capital after a day visit to the affected areas.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday visited different areas of worst-hit Patukhali, Barguna, Bagerhat and Pirojpur districts yesterday.

He distributed relief materials among survivors and pledged that aid would reach everyone soon.

"Not a single person shall die without food as the Government has sufficient stock of foodstuff," he said while addressing survivors at different places.

Officials said the Armed Forces were continuing to work side-by-side with aid agencies to deliver relief by air, road and sea to remote places.

The Armed Forces have made available 12 sea-going ships, 12 helicopters and two aircrafts to carryout rescue and relief operations by 3000 military personnel.

Meanwhile, bilateral and international donor countries and agencies as well friendly countries have already made an aid pledge to the tune of US 145 million dollars. Saudi Arabia is leading all the countries with an aid pledge of US 100 dollars. More immediate, short and long-term aid is expected to pour into the country, Foreign Office sources said yesterday.

The Foreign Ministry on Monday made an aid appeal to the international community.

However, civilian relief workers and volunteers of aid agencies are still struggling to reach relief materials to the survivors.

"It is hard to reach them in the inaccessible areas," said Anwarul Haq, who is the spokesperson of BRAC, the country's largest NGO.

He said the real picture of devastation and losses by the fury of the severe storm are yet to be assessed. It will take weeks before we know the real picture, he added.

World Food Programme's Country Representative Douglas Casson Coutts said the extent of the devastation-villages flattened and crops and livestock washed away-would make it difficult for people to rebuild their lives.

"There is significant damage to the infrastructure. There will definitely have to be longer term assistance to get people on their feet again," he said.

Heather Blackwell, the Bangladesh head of the British aid group Oxfam says, "The scale of this disaster is enormous."

"People here are resilient. However, the scale is such that it will take months for people to be able to return to their normal lives," she said, adding it "could take weeks before we know exactly how bad this cyclone was."

The confirmed death toll is jumping every moment as relief workers reaching new places in the isolated areas.

Provision of medical treatment including surgery would also be stepped up through an army-run "floating hospital," he said while visiting the southern Bagerhat district.

Villagers in some of the country's most remote areas along the coast have seen their homes and livelihoods washed away by a huge tidal wave, and are without food or clean water.

The United Nation's Children's Fund said nearly half of those affected by the disaster were children, an estimated 400,000 of them under the age of five years.

"Many have drowned or were injured by falling trees," UNICEF said.

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday made a clarion call to all irrespective of political affiliation and opinion to come forward in aid of cyclone-affected people and rendering services to the distressed humanity.

"We are now in the face of national disaster. There is no alternative to concerted efforts to face the calamities effectively," he said in his address to the nation aired simultaneously by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV Channels yesterday evening.

The Chief Adviser also called upon the business community of the country to show their social accountability and sensitivity to keep control of the prices of essential commodities and help the affected people at this critical moment.

Expressing his gratitude to those who have expressed sympathy and extended their support so far for the distressed humanity, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said the government has been facing the present situation through internal resources.

"But, we will welcome support from the friendly countries, development partners and others due to resource constraint," he said adding that the government has already built up a strong management structure in conducting initial rehabilitation activities including distribution of relief materials to the distressed people. In this context, he said channeling of any kind of assistance for the cyclone victims would be more fruitful through the government.

Announcing his decision to cancel his visit to the Commonwealth Head's of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held from November 23-25 in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, he said under this critical juncture of the country I think that I should not leave the country even for some time.

He said that he had already informed his decision to the concerned authorities through the foreign Affairs Adviser not to attend the meeting.

Dr Fakhruddin, in his eight-minute address to the nation, narrated the causes, extent of damages of lives and properties devastating by hurricane Sidr that lashed over the country on Thursday night and the government's relief operations.

He said, despite various precautionary measurers taken by the government and its preparedness programmes, thousands of people specially in the southern part of the country were affected and killed by the hurricane Sidr. It also caused a havoc in these areas by damaging crops, dwelling houses, roads and uprooting trees.

The Chief Adviser said, this sort of natural calamities after two subsequent floods that were experienced in the country a few months back has posed a threat to the national economy as well as its people.

He mentioned that at least 40 lakh people of the country were severely affected by the cyclone and several thousands people were killed. He said, the number of loss of lives and properties are increasing gradually.

Giving details, the Chief Adviser said, about nine lakh houses were damages partially and fully and innumerable number of livestock lost their lives in the cyclone.

Besides, hundreds of kilometres of roads and highways were damages, tele- communications and power supply were snapped while Aman and Rabi crops were badly damaged by the cyclone.

In addition to this, a vast area of the mangrove forest Sundarbans has been destroyed, trees were uprooted and different species of wild birds have lost their lives, he added.

Dr Fakhruddin said, though the hurricane Sidr was more powerful than the cyclone that hit in the country in 1991, the extent of damage was less as a result of precautionary measures and prepardness programmes undertaken by the present government prior to the hurricane.

The Chief Adviser said, more than six lakh people in 15 districts of the country took shelter in different shelter centres. Apart from this, the government kept ready its relief teams to face the disaster, he said adding that the damages of lives and properties were less that of 1991 due to these steps taken by the government.

He underlined the need for further strengthening efforts how to reduce loss of lives and properties in future during any natural calamities. Referring to the geographical location of the country, he said, Bangladesh is the most disaster prone country in the world due to its geo-natural conditions and climate.

But, the Chief Adviser said, the people of the country has unlimited patience, vital force and inspiration to survive by overcoming all sorts of obstacles and barriers.

He called upon all to engage our total strength for the survival of the courageous but affected people so that they could win their struggle for a new life.

Referring to various measures taken by his government for the hurricane Sidr-hit people, Dr Fakhruddin said, the local administration, members of the Army, Navy and Air Force started all out rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. Different non- government agencies and donors also joined them, he told the nation expressing gratitude of the government to all those.

The Chief Adviser said, quick steps have been taken to restore road and telecommunication and power supply and normalcy of life is returning in many places as a result of these steps.

"Round the clock control room has been set up to monitor relief and rescue work at all levels including national, district and upazila levels. Total strength of the government has been engaged in rescue and relief and to assess extent of loss," he added. Dr Fakhruddin said, dry food and relief materials have been sent to the remote areas of Dublar Char and Hiron Point of Bagerhat district, Patharghata of Barguna district, Kathalia of Jhalakathi district, Kalapara, Kuakata, Galachipa and Mirzaganj of Patuakhali district and Mathbaria and Bhandaria of Pirojpur district.

He said, besides three thousand members of the Army, in relief and rescue operation, 12 helicopters and two aircraft of the Air Force and 10 ships of the Navy and the Coast Guard has been engaged to save the distressed people.

The Chief Adviser said, the government has allocated Taka 35 crore as house building grant at the hurricane Sidr devastated districts. Taka 15 crore has been distributed from the Chief Adviser's relief fund.

He said, cash money and other materials are also being distributed as per daily requirement. The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management has been distributing GR, rice, house building allocation, blanket, dry food, utensils and CI sheet.

The district Administration concerned has procured adequate amount of dry food by which they are tackling the preliminary situation, he added.

Government medical team and medical teams of the Armed Forces are providing medicare, Dr Fakhruddin said and added, mid and long-term disaster preparedness programmes will have to be taken after tackling the primary hit of the cyclone.

He said, attention should be given to agricultural rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses at this moment.

The Chief Adviser also put emphasis on long-term programmes and said, steps should be taken to reconstruct coastal embankment and cyclone shelter centres.

BSS, Dhaka

The Armed Forces Day will be observed today with due solemnity and enthusiasm.

On this day in 1971, Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising Army, Navy and Air Force came into being and launched an all-out attack on the occupation forces.

President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed gave separate messages on the occasion.

The day's programme will begin with the offering of munajat after the Fazr prayers in all mosques at army garrisons, naval bases and establishments as well as air force bases throughout the country seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation and development and progress of the armed forces.

In Dhaka, President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed will place a floral wreath at the Shikha Anirban (the Eternal Flame) at the Dhaka Cantonment in the morning to pay his homage to the members of the armed forces who had embraced martyrdom in the War of Liberation in 1971.

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman will lay floral wreaths at the Shikha Anirban on behalf of their respective services.

Chiefs of Staff of the three services will pay courtesy call on the President at the Armed Forces Division at the Dhaka Cantonment.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed will also host a reception and meet the family members of the Bir Shresthos and other gallantly award winning freedom fighters at the Armed Forces Division at the Dhaka Cantonment.

Army, Navy and Air Force Headquarters will also accord receptions to the members of the shaheed families, award winning and retired freedom fighters of their respective services.

Various programmes have also been chalked out to celebrate the day in a befitting manner in all army garrisons, naval ships and establishments and air force bases throughout the country.

A special Anirban programme illustrating the significance of the day will be telecast by the Bangladesh Television after the Bangla News Bulletin of 8 p.m. yesterday.

Bangladesh Betar will broadcast a special Durbar programme at 7.30 p.m. today.

Private TV channels will telecast the same 'Anirban' programme from November 21. The national dailies are bringing out special supplements in observance of the day.

Staff Reporter

The United States yesterday assured long-term assistance for cyclone-hit people of Bangladesh in addition to its emergency aid of US$ 2.1 million.

"President (George W.) Bush has asked me to inform you that both civilian and military assistance would come in the next few days for the cyclone victims in Bangladesh," Director of US Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore told reporters at Zia International Airport immediately after her arrival in Dhaka to assess the damage and the need for assistance.

"We are here to help Bangladeshi people…Our desire is to build a strong and long-term partnership with Bangladesh," she said.

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi and USAID Mission Director Denise Rollins received Ms Fore at the airport.

The USAID Administrator said two naval ships with greater capacity for evacuation, are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on November 23 and November 27. Having on-board helicopters, medical teams and emergency evacuation teams, these ships would join the relief operations.

Ms Fore, who arrived Dhaka for a 24-hour visit and flew over some worst hit areas in the southern districts, said she saw houses and farms were damaged, paddy fields destroyed and people left their farms and walked into towns looking for food.

"This is a need and it will be a long-term need," she said, adding that she had discussions with the Chief Adviser and officials of the Food and Disaster Ministry on emergency and long-term assistance.

She said the US will look into schemes on education in health, assistance in rural electrification, telecommunication and construction of embankment.

"This time is very challenging for Bangladesh," Ms Fore said, adding that 46 per cent people of this country live on less than 2 US dollars a day and "many of these people lost everything."

The USAID Administrator said two US assessment teams are now working here with the Bangladesh government and by the end of this week they should have good assessment of damages caused by cyclone SIDR.

"We are working with the government, the army and NGOs in a right way to rebuild houses, rebuild lives," she said.

Meanwhile, a C-130 US cargo plane yesterday landed at Zia International Airport with first consignment of relief goods worth US$ 1,61,000.

The goods include 5,000 blankets, 2,520 hygienic kits, 2,500 jerricans, 300 plastic sheets and energy biscuits.

Staff Reporter

A high-level joint United Nations (UN) Mission yesterday visited Patuakhali, Barguna and Bagerhat--three worst cyclone-affected districts.

The members of the mission were Renata Lok Dessallien, UN Resident Coordinator, Louis-Georges Arsenault, UNICEF Representative, Douglas Broderick, WFP Representative, and Dr Marc Bellemans, FAO.

"These districts have been hard hit and many people are suffering from the loss of loved ones. Homes and livelihood have been largely affected and there has been significant loss in crop and livestock.

The poor are the worst affected," said the team, having made contacts with local officials and two UN assessment and relief teams operating in the area for the last 72 hours.

"We found the government and Bangladesh Military active and engaged in rescue and relief operations. UN agencies and NGOs are also delivering aid to the affected population. The aid is now reaching people in remote areas too," the UN executives said.

"Based on our discussion with local administration and affected people, the priority needs for the coming days are food, shelter, water and essential drugs," the UN officials assessed. Support for household economic activities will be needed in the medium term, especially for fisheries and agriculture.

According to the mission, rehabilitation works for roads, highways, culverts, embankments, schools and other infrastructures will also be required in the longer term.

Travelling through the storm-affected area, the UN officials were struck by the degree of destruction, but also impressed by the response from the Bangladeshi people.

"Once again we have witnessed the high level of resilience of the Bangladeshi people in facing natural disaster and calamities. We have seen small scale economic activities such as local markets, ferry and road transport and even agricultural activities are starting to resume," the UN officials stated.

"In solidarity with the people and Bangladesh government, the UN system will continue to provide relief and support for the affected population for the immediate as well as the recovery phase," they concluded.

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to file cases within a day or two against the two former Prime Ministers, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, in connection with the corruption and irregularities in the agreement with Canadian company NIKO, ACC sources said.

ACC sources said the cases would be filed with the city's Tejgaon police station. The prime ministers, Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of BNP, Sheikh Hasina, the chief of Bangladesh Awami League, would be accused of incurring loss to the country to the tune of Tk 13 billion for their alleged corruption.

Sources said the ACC deputy director Sabbir Hasan would file the case against AL chief Sheikh Hasina. Some other AL leaders who were ministers of the AL government might also be included in the accused list.

On the other hand, ACC's assistant director Mahbubul Alam would file the case against Khaleda Zia. Some ministers of the past BNP-Jamaat led four-party alliance government might also be co-accused in the case, sources said.

According to the ACC, its officials have already conducted preliminary enquiry into the allegations and following their enquiry, they found irregularities against them.

Meanwhile, the ACC yesterday filed a case against fugitive Rajib Siraj Opu, son of former absconding BNP minister Shahjahan Siraj, for amassing illegal wealth.

ACC's assistant director Khairul Huda filed the case with the city's Gulshan thana alleging that Opu has earned Tk 8,78,90,985 illegally and from unknown sources.

Earlier, ACC officials conducted a preliminary inquiry and being confirmed about his illegal wealth, decided to file the case.

Gulshan police said that the accused Opu has been absconding.

His father former minister Shahjahan Siraj, mother Rabeya Haider and sister Farzana Khan also went into hiding. All of them were awarded imprisonment by the court in tax evasion cases.

Staff Reporter

Housing and Public Works, Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein said that the association of the housing sector REHAB is playing a vital role in boosting economy of the country.

He said, besides the Government initiatives, the private sector housing companies are playing very important role in resolving housing problems of the common people.

The Adviser said this from Barisal in a telephonic speech at a function organised by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) on the occasion of the inauguration of REHAB Fair at Hotel Sheraton in the city yesterday.

The Adviser was the chief guest in the REHAB function yesterday. But he was then visiting cyclone Sidr devastated areas in Barisal and Pirojpur and to stand beside the cyclone affected people. He distributed relief among the affected people and encouraged them to reorganise their lives.

He urged all entrepreneurs to come forward and extend their hands for helping the SIDR affected people.

Secretary for Housing and Public Works Ministry ASM Rashidul Hai was present as special guest at the inaugural session.

He urged developers to play a responsible, transparent and accountable role as associate of the Government for implementing a planned urbanisation.

He said contribution of the housing sector is about 14 per cent to the national economic growth. The government receives about Tk 700 crore as annual revenue from this sector. Over 15 lakh workers are involved in the housing sector in the country.

President of REHAB Mukarram Husain Khan chaired the function and announced that the association would spend Tk one crore to help the people affected by the cyclone SIDR.

Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) KAM Haroon, General Secretary of REHAB Tanveerul Haque Probal, convenor of the fair committee Enamul Haque, among others, were present at the function.

The Adviser returned to the capital from Barisal. He visited the fair venue at 6:00pm yesterday and officially inaugurated the fair by cutting ribbon.

The programmes of the fair will start with extempore speeches by the college students at 11:00am on Wednesday, day-long blood and posthumous eye donation programmes on Thursday at the fair venue of the hotel, painting competition for children on Friday at the Ball Room, REHAB gold crests distribution programme at 7:00pm on Saturday and the closing session of the Fair at 6:30 pm on Sunday at Utsab Hall of Radisson Hotel.

There are 141 stalls in the fair for 136 members of REHAB and five sponsoring institutions. The sponsors are allowed to attend the fair for the first time in its history.

Besides, 11 co-sponsoring institutions are taking part in the fair. The institutions are Concord Real Estate and Building Products Ltd, Eastern Housing Ltd, Mission Energy and Properties Ltd, Rangs Properties Ltd, Sagupta NM Housing Ltd, Shadesh Properties Ltd, East West Property Development (Pvt) Ltd, Ideal Real Estate Ltd, Navana Real Estate Ltd, Rupayan Housing Estate Ltd and Shanta Properties Ltd. 'Father of the Architect of the country' architect Muzharul Islam will be awarded REHAB gold crest this year. Therefore, REHAB will organise a Raffle Draw on December 1. The winners of the draw will be from among the buyers in the fair.

The fair will end on November 25.