Fakhrul urges unified action to address flood disaster

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on all relevant ministries, divisions and agencies to work in close coordination to tackle the flooding caused by heavy rainfall and upstream flows in different parts of the country, ensure an effective emergency response, and strengthen coordination in relief and rehabilitation efforts, report

agencies.

He made the call while addressing an inter-ministerial meeting at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat in the capital on Tuesday.

In his opening remarks, Mirza Fakhrul said there was no alternative to coordinated efforts to ease public suffering under the current circumstances. Every ministry and agency, he said, must fulfil its responsibilities effectively and ensure that emergency services and assistance reach the affected people without delay.

He stressed that all government institutions must work in close coordination to deal with the flood situation. The agencies concerned, he added, should give the highest priority to rescue operations, relief distribution, healthcare services, the supply of safe drinking water, and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.

At the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government was responding to the disaster with full commitment under the Prime Minister's directives.

Emphasising transparency and accountability in relief distribution, he said assistance must reach genuinely affected people without any form of corruption.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury called for the preparation of an accurate database of flood-affected people to make relief distribution more organised and effective.

He also underscored the importance of keeping supply chains and communication networks operational.

The meeting adopted several key decisions on post-flood rehabilitation and damage management.

According to the decisions, all departments involved in disaster management will implement their respective action plans. Once the floodwaters recede, the full extent of the damage will be assessed, and food assistance programmes will be carried out accordingly.

Field-level officials will also work to help farmers recover agricultural losses, while new seeds will be supplied to affected farmers. The meeting further decided to ensure access to safe drinking water in flood-hit areas and strengthen healthcare services to prevent disease outbreaks.

It was also decided to expedite the repair of damaged roads under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). At the same time, damaged highways and other major roads under the Roads and Highways Department and other relevant authorities will be restored without delay.

Government sources said the ministries and agencies concerned would continue coordinated rescue operations, relief distribution, healthcare services and rehabilitation activities until the flood situation returns to normal.