The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The Armed Forces Division (AFD) on Wednesday distributed testimonials among the members of the Bangladesh Launch Owners Association (BLOA) and Freezer Van Owners Association (FVOA) for carrying the relief materials including sacrificial meats by their vessels and freezer vans to the Sidr- hit people in the southwestern coastlines of the country.

Director of the AFD Brigadier General Kazi Abidus Samad, on behalf of the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the AFD Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, handed over the certificates to 21 members of the BLOA at the AFD of Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment here.

The AFD also handed over a cheque for Taka 50,000 to the family of deceased driver Md Tajul Islam of Minhar Sea Food Limited, who met with the tragic end of his life in a freezer van accident while carrying the sacrificial meet on December 22 last. Monowara, widow of Tajul Islam received the cheque.

The owners of the BLWA included Shahidul Islam of MV Parabat, Saidur Rahman Rintu of MV Sundarban, Alhaj Golam Moula of MV Surovi, Major (Retd) Khairul Bashar of FVOA, Abdul Jalil Mollah, Kazi Navil Ahmed and Khan Habibur Rahman.

Brigadier General Kazi Abidus Samad recalled the contribution of BLOA and FVOA which jointly under the supervision of the AFD had transported nearly 1000 tonnes of emergency relief goods free of cost for the cyclone survivors in the southwestern coastlines of the country. This succor had largely helped the cyclone survivors in reducing their sufferings, he said.

Kazi Abidus Samad said, the owners of the Bangladesh freezer vans had set a shinning example of how to provide humanitarian services to the people in response to any kind of natural disaster by carrying the sacrificial meats free of cost to Sidr- hit people.

Brigadier General Samad said, members of the BLOA and FVOA informed that they had reached all the relief materials and succor by their vessels and freezer vans immediately after receiving those from various organizations and individuals to the Sidr-hit districts.

He said, soon after the cyclone, members of the Armed Forces in cooperation with the food and disaster management ministry had extended all out support utilising own resources.

"With the transpiration support of the members of BLOA and FVOA, it had helped minimize our chopper transportation cost as per trip helicopter cost requires about Taka 1.50 lakh," Brigadier General Samad pointed out.

Members of the BLOA and FVOA said, " We are ready to offer such kind of help in cooperation with the AFD if any disaster take place in the country in the future".

They also urged the government to take steps for improving the navigability of the southwestern coastlines so that the vessels can move smoothly.