The New Nation - Internet Edition

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.