President for integrated planning to assuage sufferings of flood victims

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SHARIATPUR, Aug 8 (UNB): President Iajuddin Ahmed Wednesday said there should be effective coordination in relief operations and any other initiatives to be taken to assuage the sufferings of the flood victims.
"All the initiatives, including relief operation, to be taken for the welfare of the flood victims, will have to be well-planed and well-coordinated. And you, both civil and military administrations, will unitedly implement those," he said in a meeting at the Circuit House here in the morning.
Industries Adviser Geeti Ara Safiya Chowdhury, Military Secretary to the President M Sirajul Islam, Dhaka Divisional Commi-ssioner Ikram Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner M Habibur Rahman Khan, SP Shahriar Rahman and other senior officials of military and civil administrations were present.
The President mentioned that the government has taken all-out initiatives to help the flood victims and the military administration is working round the clock alongside the civil one to tackle the flood situation.
"I urge the countrymen, irrespective of party and opinion, to work together with the government to tackle the flood situation as it is not possible for the government alone to face it," he added.
He called upon the countrymen to come forward with whatever they have to help the victims as their small but united-efforts will contribute a lot in reducing the sufferings of the flood victims.
Iajuddin also urged the flood victims to face the situation with patience and fortitude. "Remember, the government as well as the people of the country are always with you," he added.
He also mentioned the massive programme taken by the government for the rehabilitation of the victims and hoped that they (flood victims) would be able to return their home and get back to work with enthusiasm.
The President also reminded the Health Department and the Department of Public Health Engineering about their duties to cope with the waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, during and after the flood.
He asked the Department of Agricultural Extension to get ready to start their work as soon as the flood is over.
The President hoped that the authorities concerned would be more active in discharging their duties for developing the communication and transport systems damaged by the ravaging floods.
The President also thanked different private organisations, officials and employees of military and civil administrations and the people for standing by the flood-affected people despite various obstacles.
The President was later flown to the district police lines by a helicopter. He distributed relief among 600 flood-affected families at local Water Development Board and Shariatpur Government Girls' School.
Each family received 5 kgs of rice, one kg of pulse, two kgs of flattened rice, one kg of molasses, saris and lungis.