Govt to restore Remal-hit houses, embankments, streets, says PM

The Awami League government is working to restore houses, streets and embankments affected by Cyclone Remal, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, report agencies.

Expressing her gratitude to party leaders and activists for standing beside the affected people, the premier urged them to continue their aid efforts.

She made the request while delivering her speech after distributing relief among cyclone victims at the Govt Mozahar Uddin Biswas Degree College ground in Patuakhali's Kalapara on Thursday.

The prime minister visited the cyclone-affected area beforehand.

Describing this year's storm as very unusual, the premier said, "I set up cyclone shelters where people took refuge. Disaster-resilient houses were made for the homeless. That's why people at least had a place where they could get shelter. The livestock also got shelter."

"We want people in these areas to be free from disasters. We know the area is always disaster-prone. But measures have already been taken to repair the damaged streets and embankments. We aim to save the people from tidal surges by constructing damaged embankments before the arrival of monsoon."

She mentioned that the overall development of this southern region was possible only because the Awami League has been in power with people's mandate.

"Many came to power before us, but they did not take up any development activities for this region," she said. She once again said that improving the living standard of the people has been the main aim of the government.

She said that this time the tidal waves were much higher compared with what happened during previous cyclones. She thanked the people for coming to the cyclone shelters that were built by the government.

Hasina said that the Awami League government is doing whatever is needed for ensuring basic needs of the people.

She said that the government is standing beside the people in as the country is blessed with continued democracy.

"The socioeconomic development is happening in the country as non-stop democracy has been prevailing in the country," she said.

The prime minister said that efforts are on to repair the damaged roads, while construction of the broken dams has also started. Measures have also been taken to protect villages from flash floods by rebuilding the dams before monsoon.

She said that the goverment will also rebuild the houses destroyed by the cyclone, and assured the people of taking other necessary steps, including providing seeds and fertilizers, so that the farmers can re-cultivate the rice and wheat crops that have been destroyed.

"We are working for the overall welfare of the people of the country so they don't face food and other problems," she said.

Referring to the implementation of various development projects including the establishment of cantonment and naval base, Payra Port, power plant in the region, the prime minister said that the overall development of this area has been possible because Awami League is in power.

Hasina mentioned that this region was neglected with people here in constant battle with nature.

At a meeting with the divisional level officials she gave necessary directives for rehabilitation of the cyclone victims and asked them to continue the development works.

The relief and rehabilitation programmes for the cyclone-affected people was also reviewed at the meeting.

Presided over by Kalapara Awami League Vice President Nirmal Nandi relief distribution programme was also addressed by State Minister for Disaster and Relief Alhaj Principal Muhibur Rahman, Awami League Joint Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Awami League Organising Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain also spoke.

The relief distribution programme was held at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College at Kolapara organised by district administration.

She flew by a helicopter over Mathbaria and Pathorghata areas in Patuakhali district to get a bird's eye view of the devastation caused by this week's cyclone.

The helicopter carrying the PM landed at the helipad adjoining to Khepupara Govt Model Secondary School, Kalapara of Patukhali district at 12:20pm Thursday after around one and a half hours of ride from Dhaka.

Mathbaria and Pathorghata in Kalapara were among the hardest-hit areas when the cyclone roaring from the Bay of Bengal hit the Bangladesh coast on Sunday.

The prime minister's helicopter at some points flew just above the ground so she can have a better view of the damages caused by the cyclone that triggered tidal surges and torrential rains washing away beribadhs, fish farms, felling houses and trees along the coast.

It also left at least 16 people dead and many injured amid huge evacuation of people to cyclone shelters in an operation constantly monitored by the prime minister from Dhaka.

After relief distribution she visited the Shaheed Sheikh Kamal Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata road.