AL stays beside countrymen during any disaster: Hasan

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud was talking to reports after visitng flood affected areas of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona with the Premier

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Awami League always stands by the countrymen during any disaster and it is a culture and tradition of the party. 

"Politics is for the people's wellbeing and serving the country and society. We remained beside the countrymen when we were not in power. The Premier is the mother of humanity. She visited the flood affected areas in Sylhet region and gave directives and encouraged local administration and our party leaders and activists," he said. 

The minister told reporters after visiting flood affected areas of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona with the Premier. 

Hasan said the matter of comfort is that there were no rain today and the flood situation is improving. The flood water has receded by four to five feet in some places and the Prime Minister has given directives to dredge the main rivers of Sylhet region as the rivers have lost navigability due to siltation, he added. 

He said the Premier has taken immediate steps at the beginning of the flood situation and called out the army and other security forces. She also gave directives to the party (Awami League) leaders and activists to stay beside the flood victims, he added. 

The minister said, "We visited the spot and the locals expressed their opinion that the leaders and activists of Awami League are working for the flood victims along with the administration in spite of being marooned. The administration, army, police, BGB and our party leaders are working untidily." 

He said one AL leader informed that his residence's ground floor is under water and his family members were shifted to the first floor and gave shelter people on the second floor. He is also providing foods to them, said Hasan, also AL joint general secretary.

The minister said the deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner of Sunamganj brought a pregnant mother by a boat in their office and the woman gave birth to a baby there. The Premier named the baby as Plaban as it was born in the deluge, he added. 

"The Premier has asked the mayor of Sylhet what he got from his party (BNP) during the flood. But he couldn't tell anything as they did nothing for the flood-hit people and the leaders of BNP were not found during the disaster. They give only tall talks."

Replying to a query over a comment of BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, the minister said, according to his (Rizvi) speech, it seems that the Premier is responsible for the highest rain in Cherrapunji of Assam in 122 years and 100 years in Sylhet. In fact, they (BNP) really don't know what to say where, he added.

The minister said some so called journalists are busy in spreading fake news on social media, including YouTube, sitting in Dhaka.

Hasan urged the mainstream media to be vocal against their propaganda, reports BSS.