Cyclone victims demonstrate against alleged irregularities in relief work

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BARGUNA, Nov 29 (bdnews24.com): Hundreds of cyclone-stricken villagers demonstrated for urgent relief at the Barguna district headquarters defying emergency rule for the second day Thursday.
Two weeks after the Cyclone Sidr battered the southern districts, hapless communities living in remote pockets are yet to receive life-supporting aid.
Those taking part in Thursday's procession from Dopati village told the news agencies that they were staging protests after waiting patiently for the past two weeks without any sign of relief materials.
Authorities stopped the procession headed for the deputy commissioner's office on Sadar Road in Barguna.
The demonstrators subsequently dispersed and returned home after DC Md Altaf Hossain and local joint forces commander M Basir Ahmed assured them that relief would reach them as soon as possible.
One of the demonstrators Hemayetuddin Khan alleged that none from the local administration, including their UP chairman Abi Abdullah Bachchu Khan, had enquired about their welfare since Nov 15, when the cyclone struck.
The UP chairman, however, told bdnews24.com that he had visited the worst-affected areas of his union and distributed relief through the local UP members.
"We have been distributing relief in the district in phases and the allocations will soon increase," district commissioner Md Altaf Hossain told bdnews24.com.
Hundreds of Sidr victims had demonstrated in front of Barguna Press Club the previous day.
Wednesday morning saw a gathering of some 500 men, women and children of Uttor Khajurtala village, chanting slogans demanding emergency relief.
They carried banners reading: "We survived the storm surge but may die now." "We need food, clothes and medical care immediately."
Meanwhile in Patuakhali around 200 people Thursday staged a demonstration at Galachipa Upazila headquarters in protest against alleged irregularities in relief distribution in Dakua union.
Local sources said the cyclone-affected people thronged the office premises of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer at about 11am, chanting slogans against UP Chairman Gazi Nesar Uddin. They alleged "nepotism" in relief distribution.
The UNO, Abul Kashem Mohiuddin, pacified the protestors by allocating four tonnes of rice for them.
"Most of them (protestors) are not affected. All of the affected people have already got relief smoothly," said the UNO.