The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former President HM Ershad yesterday put forward a seven-point suggestion to save thousands of people living in the coastal areas in the country from the fury of natural calamities like cyclone and tidal surge.

The suggestions include setting up of 10-foot high embankments and at least three shelter centres at each union in the coastal areas, undertaking low cost housing projects, sinking tube-wells immediately for pure drinking water arranging village rationing, loan waiver for the worst affected people and disbursing farm loan and launching a massive afforestation programme to protect the ecological balance.

Placing the set of suggestions at a press conference at Jatiya Party's Banani office after his three-day visit to the cyclone-affected areas from November 23, the Jatiya Party Chairman said the state if emergency is not a problem in carrying out relief works by political parties.

He emphasised the need for taking long-term action plans to face natural disasters in the future.

"People living in southeastern region have to fight with natural disasters. Only massive long-term plans can save them from unfortunate deaths," he said.

The former President thanked the civil administration, army, joint forces and the foreign countries for standing beside the cyclone victims in the coastal areas.

Ershad narrated his experiences during his visit to cyclone-hit areas.

Jatiya Party leaders-Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, among others, were present at the press conference.