Major parties bury debates to join in relief work

FE Team | Published: August 11, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Major political parties including Awami League and BNP have buried the debates with the government over using party banners to launch relief operations among the flood victims, reports UNB.
Under the state of emergency, the government prohibited use of party banners during the relief work by political parties. The government decision generated annoyance among the political parties but finally they joined in the relief work to serve the hapless humanity. Awami League central leadership, split in seven teams, started distributing relief goods among the flood-hit people. Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, a wing of pro-Awami League doctors, provided medical services to the affected people.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia sought permission to visit Tangail and Sirajganj today (Saturday) to distribute relief goods, but the government did not permit her on "security" reason.
Her adviser ASM Hannan Shah told the news agency that he had talks with the Home Secretary Friday about the government clearance on Khaleda Zia's programme. But the Home Secretary regretted, he said.On behalf of Khaleda Zia, Hannan Shah will lead the BNP team to Tangail and Sirajganj today for distribution of relief materials.
On the other hand, Acting AL President Zillur Rahman opened the party's relief operation from Satarkul in the capital Friday afternoon on behalf of detained AL president Sheikh Hasina.
While distributing relief goods among 400 families under Satarkul union, Zillur said: "We are conducting the relief work at the instruction of our leader Sheikh Hasina. We will continue our efforts as long as people are reeling under flooding."
Presidium member Abdur Razzak said it is unfortunate that political parties would not be allowed to conduct the relief works with their party identity. "Not for banner, we stood beside the flood victims to serve the humanity," he said.
Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said Awami League always stood beside the distressed people at times of natural disasters. He said emergency rules had created confusion among politicians, but when the government made it clear that the emergency would not be an obstruction, they decided to conduct relief operations. Begum Motia Chowdhury of AL said the government relief goods are inadequate to meet the demand. The way the government undermined the political parties was unwarranted.
"Parties born recently need banner, but Awami League does not need it," she said.
Outspoken Motia said cholera had been absent from the country, but she alleged that for lack of initiatives by the government, the problem had re-surfaced.
JSD president Hasanul Huq Inu and executive president Moinuddin Khan Badal visited the worst affected Sirajganj and distributed relief goods among the victims.
Talking to local reporters, Inu demanded that Sirajganj be declared a "flood disaster area" with adequate allocation of relief materials for the district.
He alleged that despite having adequate foodstuff, there was a lack of coordination for proper distribution of relief goods. If natural disasters in the past could be tackled by the previous governments, this year's disaster would also be tackled, Inu said, adding that in case of failure, the caretaker government would be responsible.
Other political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, CPB and Gano Forum started relief work last week.