Long-term projects will be taken to prevent flood

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ULIPUR (Kurigram), Aug 1 (UNB): Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed today said the government has adequate preparations to deal with the exigencies caused by the raging floods in the country.
"There is adequate food in government stock to tackle the emergency situation and the government has also taken steps for immediate import of more food...tender would be floated in this connection in a week," he told reporters.
Ahmed made the remarks after distributing relief materials, including rice, lungi and saree, among the flood-affected people on Bagua Anantapur High School and College premises at Anatapur in Ulipur Upazila in the morning.
Earlier, the Chief Adviser (CA) took a helicopter tour over the flood-affected areas of the district and saw for himself the flood situation and the havoc caused by the flood.
Expressing satisfaction over the government activities to help the flood victims, Ahmed said coordination committees at district and upazila levels, comprising civil administration, army, and NGOs, are working round the clock to tackle the flood situation.
Replying to a volley of questions from the newsmen, the CA said his government, after assessing the situation, would formulate projects to reconstruct and strengthen various embankments in the next dry session for long-term flood prevention and thus saving lives, property, and crops.
About seed distribution, the CA said he has directed the agricultural department, local administration and army to take immediate steps for providing seeds to the farmers in advance for the next Aman sowing.
There are standby medical teams to provide treatment to patients of waterborne diseases during and after the flooding, he said adding, "There is also enough stock of water-purifying tablets and other relief materials are being sent from Dhaka as per demand."
The CA said he is getting updated information every day from the flood coordination and monitoring cell opened at his office and giving necessary directives.
Replying to a question, he said he would visit more flood-hit areas where necessary to see for himself the situation and the extent of damage.
Fakhruddin said Bangladesh, as a calamity-prone country, has better experience in management of natural disasters, including flood.
He said his government as well as the field-level administrations were following standard and tested strategies to tackle the flood situation.
About rehabilitation, he said the government has plans and preparation for the post-flood massive rehabilitation of the flood victims.
He said those who have been hit hard by the flooding are being sent to flood centres.
Later, the CA visited flood-affected areas in Hatiya and Water Development Board office at Bagua Anantapur in Ulipur Upazila.
At Ulipur, Brigade Commander M Ferdous Mia briefed the CA about the flood situation and relief operation in the district.
The CA was informed that 54 unions, out of 85, in nine Upazilas of the district have been hit by the sweeping flood, affecting about 0.36 million people and killing one person at Nageshwari Upazila. The flooding also damaged huge property in the nine Upazilas.
Beside, standing crops on 39356 hectares of land in the district were damaged by the current flooding.
Eighty-three medical teams are working in the district as diarrhoea has broken out in many flood-hit areas, affecting 19 people.
So far, the government has distributed 222 metric tons of rice and Tk 0.34 million among the flood-affected people of the nine upazilas. It has also set up 50 flood centres in the district where some 10,500 people have taken shelter.
Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdury, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Masududdin Chowdury and CA's press secretary Sayed Fahim Munaim, among others, accompanied him.
Rangpur Area Commander and GOC of Rangpur Cantonment Fatemi Ahmed Roomy, Kurigram DC AR Mollah and other civil and military high officials were also present during the CA's visit to Ulipur.