Damaged houses, embankments, bridges will be repaired quickly – PM Hasina

PM Sheikh Hasina addressing a Public meeting in Kalapara on Thutrsday 30 May 2024.

Patuakhali: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today, ‘I will make arrangements so that houses destroyed by Cyclone Remal, can be rebuilt and repaired. I will give you seeds, fertilizers so that farmers can start farming with new initiative. Damaged embankments, roads, pools, bridges will be repaired soon. We have already started the work and  will complete those before the monsoon. Repose your trust in me. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said these words in the speech of the chief guest at the relief distribution ceremony among the people affected by cyclone Remal at the government Mozahar Uddin Biswas College ground in Kalapara Municipality of Patuakhali on Thursday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also said, ‘I would like to thank all our elected public representatives, paramilitary, military officers, administration officials and employees who have supported and stood by the people in this disaster. We want the people of this region to be freed from the disaster. This region is always disaster prone, that's why I have come to your side today. When I arrived, I saw that the houses of the shelter project were not damaged. I have made your houses disaster resistant in coastal areas and will continue to do so. Bangabandhu made the country independent, he wanted to put a smile on the face of the suffering people, he sacrificed his life for the welfare of people.'

The meeting was presided over by Upazila Awami League senior vice-president Babu Nirmal Nandi. The Prime Minister said, 'Southern region has always been neglected. I have made your Thermal Power Plant, Payra Sea Port, Sher-e-Bangla Naval Beige. I have made family cards so that people can easily buy daily commodities. Our aim is that the people of the country should not suffer. Not a single person in the country will be homeless. I have made digital Bangladesh, now I will build smart Bangladesh.'

Upazila Awami League Joint Secretary Principal Manjurul Alam and Organizing Secretary Advocate Saidur Rahman moderated the meeting, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Principal Md. Mohibbur Rahman, State Minister of Water Resources Colonel (Retd.) Zahid Farooq MP, Disaster Management President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry and Former Chief Whip ASM Feroz MP, Shammi Akhtar MP, Joint General Secretary of Awamileague Central Committee Bahauddin Nasim MP, Advisor of Bangladesh Awami League Major General Hafiz Mallik MP, Organizing Secretary of Awamileague Central Committee Advocate Afzal Hossain, Dist. Awami League President Bir Muktijoddha Kazi Alamgir, Secretary Bir Muktijoddha VP Abdul Mannan, Bangladesh Chhatra League Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan etc spoke in the relief distribution ceremony. Patuakhali Sadar Constituency MP ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, Barisal City Corporation Mayor Abul Khair Abdullah Khokon Serniabad were also present at the time. 

Earlier, the Prime Minister landed at Khepupara Government Model Secondary School ground by helicopter around 12:20 PM. Reaching the meeting place, she distributed relief materials among 2 thousand people affected by the disaster. After the public meeting, she visited the Sheikh Kamal Bridge and participated in an opinion exchange meeting with high-level officials of Barisal Division in the conference room of Payra Thermal Power Plant. At 3 pm, she left for Dhaka by helicopter from Payra thermal power station helipad.- Gofran Biswas Palash