The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) started post-cyclone relief activities yesterday. The party formed a committee headed by Maj Gen (Retd) Rafiqul Hossain to coordinate the relief operations.

The party also opened an account in the Dutch Bangla Bank, Dilkusha branch for fund raising. The account number is C/A 101.110.22491.

Convener of the party Dr Ferdous Ahmed Quareshi and this to journalists yesterday at a press conference at its office.

Dr Quareshi said the met office of the country should be equipped with the modern technologies so that they could give us the proper weather updates and warnings.

He demanded of the Government, the UN and other regional organisations to set up a regional met office in Bangladesh to monitor the situation of the Bay of Bengal, as it was very important for the people of this region.

About the arrival of US marine ships Dr Quarishi said, "Helps and assistance come from different countries in a disastrous situation, there is no harm."

He demanded of the Government to engage the Armed Forces in a large scale and to make mid-term and long -term plan to face the situation.

"The Sundarbans has saved us this time though we had neglected it for long now it is the time to take steps to give it the previous shape," said Quareshi demanding proper care to the Sundarbans.

About the demand of some political parties to release their chiefs during the crisis situation PDP chief said it was their political statement taking chance of the situation and there was no connection of relief operation with the release of somebody.

The PDP relief team left for Barisal yesterday and will conduct relief operation for four days. The party will set up 100 tube wells, 100 toilets and rebuild houses of two selected villages in the affected areas. PDP will conduct its relief operation for the next three months under the relief committee.

Staff Reporter

The French Embassy in Dhaka on Friday in a clarification refuted the allegations related to the exhibition of Bangladeshi artifacts at the Guimet Museum in France.

The embassy representatives at a press release on Friday said that in the last five years, thousands of international exhibitions have been held in France and more than a hundred in Guimet Museum alone. But not a single theft by a third party has been recorded during those exhibitions.

The embassy also said that the allegation of theft or of not returning the artifacts is 'insulting' and 'ridiculous'.

Staff reporter

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) has donated Tk50 lac to the Chief Adviser's relief fund for the cyclone affected people.

The cheque was handed over to Dr Fakhruddin Ahmad, Chief Advisor of the Caretaker government by Prof Abu Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher yesterday.

Md. Shamsul Haque, Executive President (Current Charge) of IBBL was present at this moment.

IBBL will also handover another cheque worth Tk 30 lac will be handed over to Moeen U. Ahmed, Chief of the Army Staff for his relief fund today.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and Islami Bank Foundation has so far donated Tk 3 crore and Tk 20 lac respectively for assisting the affected people.

Besides, the staff and officers of the Bank donated their one day's salary for the same purpose. Islami Development Bank extended their help for the affected people by donating Tk 2 lac, which will be disbursed by IBBL.

Different Branches of the Bank are caring out their relief distribution activities in different affected areas. Staff and officers of the Bank are trying their utmost to reach even the remote areas for distributing relief goods to the cyclone victims, according to a press release.