The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Government has received considerable amount of cash money and relief materials from the members of public of our own country and from foreign countries for the cyclone-affected people. These donations of money and relief materials would continue in future for some time to mitigate the sufferings of the cyclone affected people and to take necessary steps to rehabilitate them.

In the past many natural calamities like flood, cyclone, tidal-bore, famine, etc hit our country and our former governments received huge amount of donation, aid, help and assistance from foreign countries as well as contributions from our own people. But unfortunately there had been numerous complains and allegations of theft, misuse, squandering and misappropriation of relief money and materials and there was no accountability and transparency.

We therefore, strongly feel that our present Caretaker government may take immediate necessary steps and maintain a proper record and account of all types of receipts of donations, cash money and materials.

At the same time, the government may keep upto date record and account of all types of distribution of donations, cash money, materials and related logistic expenditures on conveyance, cost of transportation, payment of TA/DA., Honorarium of the government officers and staff engaged in relief works. Every after two months the government may issue a Press Release to this effect for proper accountability and transparency of relief donation, cash money and materials so that no predicament is involved in future.

Would the Chief Advisor's Secretariat, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Deputy Commissioners of all cyclone-affected districts kindly look into the matter, cooperate and coordinate with each other and ensure proper accountability and transparency in the greater public interest, good and efficient governance of our country?

O.H. Kabir

Dhaka

These days most newspaper columns are replete with stories of the cyclone hit areas depicting peoples' struggle to put their lives together. Various agencies, particularly Bangladesh Forest Department, are already making an assessment of the damage to Sundarban as a result of cyclone Sidr.

Some experts voiced their opinions on the recovery strategies. Nonetheless, it is important that the ecological dynamics of Sundarban be taken into consideration before putting any such strategy into action.

The Sundarban mangrove is an ecological playground of nature. Unlike plantations, processes such diurnal ebb-tide, episodic disturbance like the cyclone Sidr, have been shaping this magnificent forest over many centuries, if not thousands of years.

Forest management including recovery activities, e.g., salvage- harvesting and cleaning of debris from the forest floor should, therefore, be in symphony with these processes, in order to maintain a sustainable ecosystem. Over time, Sundarban will recover from the wounds of cyclone and many might wonder in awe in 10-20 years time that a cyclone as devastating as Sidr was ever hit this magnificent forest.

Abu M. Nurullah, Ph.D.

Forest Management Specialist

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

1111 Washington St SW, Olympia, WA 98504, USA