BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman speaking at a discussion on 'People's expectation from the interim government', organised by the National Democratic Movement at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) in the capital on Friday. — Focus Bangla Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to start rehabilitation activities for the flood-affected people.
Standing committee member of the party Dr AZM Zahid Hossain disclosed it to the media on Friday at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters in the capital.
He said that since August 25 till date BNP has collected relief materials and cash worth over Tk200 million (20 crore) for distributing and rehabilitating flood-affected people in the eastern part of the country.
"We will utilise that money for the flood-affected people's rehabilitation," he said.
They will distribute relief materials and cash to flood-affected people in Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Cumilla (both south and north), Khagrachhari, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and part of Chattogram and some upazilas of Chandpur district.
He said BNP men rescued flood-affected people and distributed food (dry foods and others) among them in the areas.
"BNP is not in power now, but despite that our party leaders and activists stand beside the flood victims and we will do so in future," he said.
Mr Zahid Hossain further said that apart from party men, ordinary people including rickshaw-pullers, housewives and day labourers have also contributed to the BNP's relief fund.
"We have maintained proper account of each and every taka of the fund. We provided money receipts to those who contributed (to the relief fund)," he continued.
"Many people wanted to contribute money to our relief fund. We didn't take some people's donations (financial). We inadvertently received Tk three million from three people and later we have returned that money to them," he stated.
"Morally we do believe that it is not right on our part to receive their money and thus we have returned the money to them through pay orders. So, we were very much transparent in receiving donation. We are also transparent in distributing relief materials to the flood-affected people," he said.
He said that BNP has a Central Relief and Rehabilitation Fund with a deposit of total Tk600 million now (including the amount of Tk 200 million).
He said that members of Ziaur Rahman Foundation and Doctors Association of Bangladesh have started opening medical camps and distributing medicines to the flood-affected people suffering from different post-flood related water-borne diseases.
He also said that BNP men started distributing paddy seeds to the farmers of flood-affected districts after collecting from of Jamalpur, Tangail and Brahmanbaria districts.
He added they are working to rehabilitate flood-affected people as per the directive of the party chairman Tarique Rahman.
BNP will also provide financial support from this fund to 137 martyrs who had sacrificed their lives during the students-mass movement against autocrat Sheikh Hasina.
He further said that people of the country know very well how to face natural disasters.
He on behalf of his party expressed gratitude to the people who have contributed to the party's relief fund.
Senior joint secretary general of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Abdus Salam Azad, members of the party's relief committee Abdus Salam and Mir Sarafat Ali Sopu were present, among others.
Meanwhile, standing committee member of BNP Begum Selima Rahman urged on Friday the party leaders and activists not to inflict torture on others.
She urged them to continue their struggle so that people could cast their votes freely in a free and fair national election.
She made the comments at a discussion titled "People's aspiration to the interim government" organbised by Jatiya Gonotantrik Andolon at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
"She (Sheikh Hasina) is hatching conspiracy sitting in India. Awami League collaborators created unrest in the garment sector. We must remain vigilant against all conspiracies," she said.
She called upon the interim government to hold national election as early as possible after completing reforms.
BNP leader Barkatullah Bulu said that his party leaders and activists were tortured and cases were filed against them by the Awami League during the last 17 years.
He said that the recent movement against deposed Sheikh Hasina succeeded due to the student-mass movement.
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