The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury yesterday called upon all, including the politicians, to come forward in aid of the victims. When asked about the emergency, the functionary of the caretaker government said that emergency wouldn't be a barrier to relief-distribution work.

He also called upon the business community to keep stable the price of the daily essentials for the sake of the cyclone-affected people.

However, a top army official ruled out the possibility of the Caretaker Government holding talks with political leaders to face the post-cyclone emergency. "We do not think it necessary to hold meeting with political leaders," Principal Staff Officer of the Army Lt General Masud Uddin Chowdhury said, in presence of Adviser Tapan Chowdhury.

The Adviser of the interim Government along with the Army General were talking to journalists at a formal press briefing organised by Disaster Management Ministry after holding a meeting with leaders of the business community.

Gen. Masud said, political parties can operate relief efforts. The government will not bar them. People should come forward with the relief materials out of their own commitment. While asked about displaying banners and identities by the respective political parties in their relief operation, he said, "The government restricted it during the post-flood relief operations. But I do not know whether the government will continue the ban or not." Tapan Chowdhury and General Masud also assured that the government would not sue anybody on charge of extortion, for collecting fund for cyclone victims or for donating to volunteers.

General Masud apprised the meeting that, according to figures collected till yesterday noon, a total of 3,113 people were killed while another 1,063 remained missing since the devastating cyclone Sidr struck Thursday night.

Some one million families were affected and three million people became homeless. Some 2.5 lakh livestock perished in the disaster.

Asked about the Red Crescent calculated higher figure, which apprehended that the death toll could cross 10,000, he said he was unaware about the base of their survey.

Journalists asked him if there has been any lack of coordination between the government and the Army in this regard, as there has been a gap between the death figures given by the two sides. He replied: "There's a gap of 300 only in the two tolls, which matters little."

About the prognosis about another up-and-coming cyclone, nicknamed Nargis, which could sweep the country middle of December, he said, "We are discussing the matter."

He felt that more relief needed for the people of the cyclone-affected areas.

FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain, DCCI president Hossain Khalid, Moshiul Karim, president of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Latifur Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Ershad, president of of AmCham, MA Gafur, Executive Director of AmCham, BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury and BKMEA chief Fazlul Haq represented the business community in the meeting.

They pledged to assist the government and donate in its fund for assisting and rehabilitating the foodless and shelter-less people who have lost their near and dear ones and have been pauperised within a moment of tempest.

The BGMEA confirmed that it would donate one lakh sweaters, two lakh shirts and trousers while the BKMEA said it would give five lakh vests and T-shirts.

Mir Nasir said his apex trade body would reach the affected areas with relief after meeting with the district-level chambers.