An appeal to all NRBs
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Ripan Kumar Biswas
AT the request of the Prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and having great feelings for the country, all non-resident Indians across the world came forward to help the tsunami victims. The tsunami killed over 280,000 people in towns and villages along the coasts of the Indian Ocean on or after December 26, 2004.
Over three million survivors had their livelihoods destroyed. India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Somalia were affected.
Bangladesh was not hit by of the tsunami on December 26 because of the natural barrier of its continental shelf stretching 200 km into the Bay of Bengal, but the floods that started since mid-July this year across Bangladesh is no a less natural disaster that already killed several people. Millions have been rendered homeless or remain in abject misery for dearth of bare necessities and the outbreak of diseases.
According to the official estimates, over 9.7 million people of 1.9 million families in 239 upazilas in 40 districts were affected by the floods. At least 89,048 houses were completely and about 0.6 million more partially damaged. More than 1.5 million acres of land were fully or partially destroyed and a total of 317 educational institutions were completely and 4,628 partially demolished. Some 58,092-km flood-protection embankments were completely washed away while 1,475 km partially affected.
Chief Adviser (CA) Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed appealed to everyone in his address to the nation on August 5, 2007 to come forward and join in relief and rehabilitation operation for helping out the flood-stricken people. He further called upon everyone to stand beside the helpless flood-affected people hand in hand.
Like in other times, non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) across the world can extend support to the helpless flood-affected people in a broader way as they always keep Bangladesh in their heart wherever they are.
Since 1976 to April 2007, around 4.751 million Bangladeshis went to different parts of the world from where they are remitting money which is now one of the main sources foreign exchange earnings for Bangladesh. With a continuous growth in remittance, Bangladesh's remittance inflow reached 561.92 million dollars in May 2007. The non-resident Bangladeshis send roughly 7.0 billion dollars every year and a significant amount of the total amount still comes through Hundi.
The NRBs have always played an important role in all times of difficulties facing their country of origin. They have been campaigning in favour of, and upholding, the interests of their country, by expressing their views and opinions across the world through media and different international organisations.
Wherever they are, the NRBs are concerned about the welfare of their country. They believe that no sustained progress is possible for Bangladesh without promoting the cause of its general people.
Bangladesh is now facing a big natural disaster. The river waters have started receding in the flood-hit areas, but the sufferings of people are compounded. Thousands are getting infected with water-borne diseases, for want of safe water, food and shelter. Farmers are facing the challenges to carry out their future production programmes. The waterborne diseases are likely to break out in more areas after the recession of the flood waters.
Although the government has been distributing relief goods, the shortage of food and drinking water is still acute in many places. Millions of the affected people are waiting eagerly for relief goods to arrive and the rehabilitation programmes, to begin in night earnest.
In view of the miserable plight of the people who have been affected by the flooding, the government is planning to divert funds towards flood. Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), political parties, businessmen, professionals, the international community and even individuals are distributing relief goods.
But as in other times, the contribution of the NBRs can be a strong force for stepping up efforts on all counts to assuage the sufferings of the people at this time. The NBRs do need to extend a helping hand to the millions in distress in their mother land.
(The writer is a freelancer based in New York and can be reached at Ripan.Biswas@yahoo.com)
AT the request of the Prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and having great feelings for the country, all non-resident Indians across the world came forward to help the tsunami victims. The tsunami killed over 280,000 people in towns and villages along the coasts of the Indian Ocean on or after December 26, 2004.
Over three million survivors had their livelihoods destroyed. India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Somalia were affected.
Bangladesh was not hit by of the tsunami on December 26 because of the natural barrier of its continental shelf stretching 200 km into the Bay of Bengal, but the floods that started since mid-July this year across Bangladesh is no a less natural disaster that already killed several people. Millions have been rendered homeless or remain in abject misery for dearth of bare necessities and the outbreak of diseases.
According to the official estimates, over 9.7 million people of 1.9 million families in 239 upazilas in 40 districts were affected by the floods. At least 89,048 houses were completely and about 0.6 million more partially damaged. More than 1.5 million acres of land were fully or partially destroyed and a total of 317 educational institutions were completely and 4,628 partially demolished. Some 58,092-km flood-protection embankments were completely washed away while 1,475 km partially affected.
Chief Adviser (CA) Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed appealed to everyone in his address to the nation on August 5, 2007 to come forward and join in relief and rehabilitation operation for helping out the flood-stricken people. He further called upon everyone to stand beside the helpless flood-affected people hand in hand.
Like in other times, non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) across the world can extend support to the helpless flood-affected people in a broader way as they always keep Bangladesh in their heart wherever they are.
Since 1976 to April 2007, around 4.751 million Bangladeshis went to different parts of the world from where they are remitting money which is now one of the main sources foreign exchange earnings for Bangladesh. With a continuous growth in remittance, Bangladesh's remittance inflow reached 561.92 million dollars in May 2007. The non-resident Bangladeshis send roughly 7.0 billion dollars every year and a significant amount of the total amount still comes through Hundi.
The NRBs have always played an important role in all times of difficulties facing their country of origin. They have been campaigning in favour of, and upholding, the interests of their country, by expressing their views and opinions across the world through media and different international organisations.
Wherever they are, the NRBs are concerned about the welfare of their country. They believe that no sustained progress is possible for Bangladesh without promoting the cause of its general people.
Bangladesh is now facing a big natural disaster. The river waters have started receding in the flood-hit areas, but the sufferings of people are compounded. Thousands are getting infected with water-borne diseases, for want of safe water, food and shelter. Farmers are facing the challenges to carry out their future production programmes. The waterborne diseases are likely to break out in more areas after the recession of the flood waters.
Although the government has been distributing relief goods, the shortage of food and drinking water is still acute in many places. Millions of the affected people are waiting eagerly for relief goods to arrive and the rehabilitation programmes, to begin in night earnest.
In view of the miserable plight of the people who have been affected by the flooding, the government is planning to divert funds towards flood. Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), political parties, businessmen, professionals, the international community and even individuals are distributing relief goods.
But as in other times, the contribution of the NBRs can be a strong force for stepping up efforts on all counts to assuage the sufferings of the people at this time. The NBRs do need to extend a helping hand to the millions in distress in their mother land.
(The writer is a freelancer based in New York and can be reached at Ripan.Biswas@yahoo.com)