The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said multi-story mosque-cum-cyclone centers will be built in phases in the country's disaster-prone districts with a view to minimising loss to lives and property during natural calamities.

The army chief said initially we will build five mosque-cum- cyclone centres in the designated areas and work on such project has already been started.

General Moeen said this while receiving donations from different organisations and individuals for the cyclone victims at the Army Headquarters' Officers Mess at Dhaka Cantonment here.

The army chief said, apart from using the mosques as cyclone shelters, each establishment will have accommodation facilities for an Imam with 360 devotees offering prayers at a time. The army chief said all temples damaged by the cyclone Sidr will be reconstructed or repaired.

He said all the damaged villages will be reconstructed and affected micro professionals in the far-flung areas rehabilitated. The fishermen, who had lost their boats and nets in the cyclone, will be provided with monetary support, he added.

The army chief said because of an enormous post-cyclone rehabilitation programme being carried out by various organisations and individuals the cyclone affected people have again started going back to their normal life.

"We have taken advanced measures to distribute reading materials among the students, including SSC and HSC candidates, in the cyclone affected areas as the government books do not reach the grassroots level within the stipulated timeframe." Moeen said.

He said the army has provided the farmers with power tillers in the affected areas in fulfillment of a demand made a conference of the local government representatives in Dhaka recently.

Moeen said various individuals and organisations have so far donated Taka 23.66 crore to the army relief fund and Prabashi Palli, an expatriate's organisation, alone donated Taka 47 lakh today for building one mosque-cum- cyclone centre.

The construction of the said mosque-cum-cyclone centre is going on in full swing at Southkhali area under Sarankhula upazila of Bagerhat district, ISPR sources said.

The individuals and organisations today donated Taka 1,75,10,505. The donors included PWD Sports Club of Dhaka, Dhaka WASA, Mohammedan Sporting Club, BD PBC Pipe Manufacturer Association, Continental Courier Service, Mosque Council, Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association, Gausia Market Shop Owners Association, Eastern Mollika Shop Owners Association, Expatriates Bangladeshi Socio-Economic Development Project in Saudi Arabia, AN Wahid Uddin Chowdhury of Australia-based Charity Quest, Bangladesh Kindergarten Association, Expatriate Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia, Ladies Club Chittagong, Bangladesh Cookeries Business Association, Essential Drugs Company Limited, Rangpur Dental College and Mogbazar Kisholaya Association.