Govt keeps option for foreign help open

Dhaka, Aug 4 (bdnews24.com) – The interim cabinet Saturday decided the government may ask for foreign assistance only after utilising internal resources and assessing the flood damages, according to a government handout. Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed and PSO of the Armed Forces Division Lt. General Masud Uddin Chowdhury attended the meeting at the special invitation of the council of advisers. The makeshift cabinet decided from now information adviser Mainul Hosein and disaster management adviser Tapan Chowdhury would regularly brief reporters on the flood situation at the Chief Adviser's Office. The council approved the proposal for Electoral Roll Ordinance 2007 to facilitate preparation of a digital electoral roll process by the Election Commission. The advisers also agreed to formulate an ordinance for private universities to ensure quality education and bring transparency to the institutions. The meeting assessed the flood situation in the country. Disaster management secretary Dhiraj Malakar and General Masud gave presentations on the flood situation. Tapan and agriculture, fisheries and livestock adviser CS Karim along with the army chief also shared their experiences of the visits to the flood-hit areas at the meeting.