PM asks Navy to plant more trees in coastal region
Monday, 8 June 2009
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the Bangladesh Navy to actively participate in sowing seeds and planting more saplings in the coastal districts particularly in remote 'char' areas to protect the territory and its people from storms and tidal surges, reports UNB.
The call came when Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral ZU Ahmed handed over a cheque of Tk 1.0 million for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, in aid of the people affected by cyclone Aila, at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the morning.
The Navy Chief informed the Prime Minister that the members of the naval force immediately after the cyclonic storm stood by the people and already spent a similar amount of money in distributing rice, medicine and cash among the people.
The Prime Minister thanked the Bangladesh Navy for standing by the disaster-hit people of the coastal belt.
She emphasised on using rainwater to reduce pressure on underground water.
Sheikh Hasina asked the Navy to encourage people in preserving rainwater as a means to overcome the crisis of sweet water in the coastal districts.
She said the salty water of the ponds in the coastal districts can be pumped out and these water bodies can be used for preserving rainwater.
The Prime Minister reiterated her government's strong commitment to remove every problem of the common people.
She said the people also needs to be inspired in offering voluntary labour to reconstruct the infrastructures damaged by natural calamities.
Hasina urged Navy to encourage people for engaging themselves as voluntary labours in repairing the embankments damaged by the storm Aila. She also said the government will set up more cyclone shelters in the coastal districts.
The Prime Minister said the government has already allocated 2.5 million tonnes of food for use in carrying out the reconstruction works of the damaged embankments and other infrastructures.
Adviser to the Prime Minister Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui, PMO Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Special Security Force (SSF)'s Director General Maj Gen Mia Md Jainul Abedin and Prime Minister's Military Secretary Brig Gen Md Salahuddin Miaji were present.
The call came when Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral ZU Ahmed handed over a cheque of Tk 1.0 million for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, in aid of the people affected by cyclone Aila, at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the morning.
The Navy Chief informed the Prime Minister that the members of the naval force immediately after the cyclonic storm stood by the people and already spent a similar amount of money in distributing rice, medicine and cash among the people.
The Prime Minister thanked the Bangladesh Navy for standing by the disaster-hit people of the coastal belt.
She emphasised on using rainwater to reduce pressure on underground water.
Sheikh Hasina asked the Navy to encourage people in preserving rainwater as a means to overcome the crisis of sweet water in the coastal districts.
She said the salty water of the ponds in the coastal districts can be pumped out and these water bodies can be used for preserving rainwater.
The Prime Minister reiterated her government's strong commitment to remove every problem of the common people.
She said the people also needs to be inspired in offering voluntary labour to reconstruct the infrastructures damaged by natural calamities.
Hasina urged Navy to encourage people for engaging themselves as voluntary labours in repairing the embankments damaged by the storm Aila. She also said the government will set up more cyclone shelters in the coastal districts.
The Prime Minister said the government has already allocated 2.5 million tonnes of food for use in carrying out the reconstruction works of the damaged embankments and other infrastructures.
Adviser to the Prime Minister Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui, PMO Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Special Security Force (SSF)'s Director General Maj Gen Mia Md Jainul Abedin and Prime Minister's Military Secretary Brig Gen Md Salahuddin Miaji were present.