In its first 100 days since entering office on August 8, the interim government has implemented practical disaster management and relief efforts in the wake of the August 5 overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s dictatorship due to a popular movement spearheaded by students.
Since entering office, the government has been implementing a number of initiatives to expedite the work of all institutions and enhance their ability to serve the public at all levels, spreading the spirit of the July movement to create an inclusive nation free from prejudice.
As part of the efforts, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has also taken steps to strengthen its overall capacity to deal with any natural or man-made disaster as it has already had to deal with several rounds of devastating flood in August and September in 17 districts.
“The government put its highest efforts to stand by the flood victims by ensuring required relief goods, medicines and healthcare during the period of flood. Now the ministry is carrying out rehabilitation programme for the flood victims,” Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, told BSS.
According to him, the government has set aside Taka 54 lakh and 1800 bundles of corrugated iron (CI) sheets to restore homes damaged by the flood.
Up to November 7, 331 bank instruments totalling about Taka 97.18 crore were donated to the Chief Adviser’s relief fund by different organisations and individuals.
In August and September of last year, flooding occurred in multiple phases in 17 districts: Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur, Cox’s Bazar, Mymensnigh, Sherpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, and Netrokona.
Seventy four people were killed in the flood in Cumilla, Feni, Chittagong, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Cox’s Bazar and Moulvibazar districts while over 50 lakh people were affected in the flood.
On August 19, severe flood hit 11 districts in the northeastern and southeastern region due to onrush of hilly water from upstream as well as downpour in the region.
Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam held an urgent meeting with the ministry officials on August 20.
He visited the flood situation in Cumilla and Feni district on August 22-24 and Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Chattogram from August 30 to September 01.
Over five lakh people were evacuated to around shelter centers during the flood in the eastern region of the country.
Sufficient number of medical teams worked during the time to provide treatment to flood victims while drinking water, water purification tablet, clothes, medicines, baby foods and sanitary items were also distributed.
Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, and Fire Service and Civil Defence Stations, Bangladesh Coast Guard carried out rescue and relief operations during the flood.
The ministry opened control room for providing information round the clock.
Many elderly residents of Feni and Noakhali districts reported that they had never seen a flash flood of this magnitude in their lifetimes, while 11 districts in the country’s northeastern and southeast regions experienced a severe flood in August.
Over 70 people were murdered and 50 lakh were impacted by the flood, which devastated the entire eastern region. Half a million people were forced to seek shelter in shelter centres and multi-story school and college buildings.In 23 districts in eastern Bangladesh, it caused agricultural damage valued at Tk 33.46 billion. According to government figures, the flooding affected 372,733 hectares of crop land and damaged over 200,000 hectares of crop land. During the crisis period, an unprecedented national unity was seen so that people of all strata thronged Teacher-Student Center (TSC) on Dhaka University campus with relief materials and cash money to stand by the flood affected victims immediately responding to the call of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement that led the July-August mass uprising toppling the over 15-year long Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic regime. Massive number of people was seen standing in long queue to deposit their donation to the volunteers of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at TSC. Relief supplies and funds were sent throughout the flood-affected districts in collaboration with the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.
The Chief Adviser’s Relief Fund subsequently received a sizable amount of the donations raised at TSC for the flood victims’ rehabilitation program.
From August 6 to October 29, the disaster management and assistance ministry distributed 37,500 packs of dry food and Taka 4.75 crore (cash) to flood victims in 43 districts, including those affected by the national flood.
In addition, as part of the relief efforts during that time, the ministry set aside Taka 2.90 crore for baby food and Taka 2.90 cr for purchasing fodder.
Representative of UN Resident Coordinator, UNHCR Country Representative, US Ambassador, British High Commissioner, World Bank Acting Country Director, High Commissioner of Australia paid courtesy call on the advisor and discussed on disaster management, flood situation and rehabilitation and other issues.
During a visit to the flood-affected districts of Moulvibazar and Habiganj on September 7, the adviser shared opinions with the local administration and gave the go-ahead for the best possible support for the flood victims.
At the meeting of the interministerial disaster management coordination committee on September 17, 2024, he provided the required instructions to the representatives of different ministries to aid the flood victims.
The ministry’s other operations during this time included allocating and distributing 16,831 metric tonnes of rice in 64 districts nationwide in September 2024 in honour of Durga Puja.
Among development activities, a total of 12 projects including 10 under the Annual Development Program (ADP) and 2 outside the Annual Development Program is being implementation by the Department of Disaster Management.
In September, the ministry provided ladders with the height of 38m, 58m and 64m to Department of Fire Service and Civil Defense for use in various disaster rescue operations.
