Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

My Dear Countrymen,

Assalamu Alaikum.

I am appearing before you in the backdrop of a deadly natural disaster. The whole of Bangladesh is now engulfed by the scourge of floods. Thirty-eight districts of the country have now been affected by flood. Eight million people have been ravaged by it. There is no scope for us to sit idle at home while these huge number helpless masses remain in danger. People irrespective of party or opinion belonging to all classes and professions should come forward in aid of the flood-ravaged people. Helping hands should be extended in accordance with one’s ability and people should spontaneously participate in relief efforts. Otherwise, our discharge of responsibility as citizens of an independent country would remain unfulfilled.

My Dear Countrymen,

The present government is fully accountable to the people of Bangladesh. As a part of this accountability, I would like to shed some light on the latest flood situation in the country and the measures taken by the government. Due to persistence of heavy and moderate rains during the past few weeks and the inflow of flood waters from across the borders, newer habitats have been flooded in our country on a daily basis. Till now, 75 flood-control embankments have been damaged. Until yesterday, 234 upazilas and 1660 unions under 38 districts have been affected. The number of deaths stands at 120. Over 600 thousand dwelling houses have been partially damaged and 90 thousand fully damaged. Crops in over 600 thousand acres of land have been fully damaged and crops in around the same area partially damaged.

My Dear Countrymen,

The government has already taken a number of steps for tackling floods and distribution of relief and succour to the affected people. The National Disaster Management Council and the inter-ministerial coordination committee have been activated. For facing the situation, coordination committees at the district and upazila levels comprising of representatives from Government, Private and NGO sectors have been formed and made functional. The members of the armed forces are also playing an important role by assisting the civil administration in the relief and rescue efforts at all places. The members of the Council of Advisers have been allocated responsibilities for overall supervision of relief activities in various flood-affected districts. Alongside monitoring the situation, they shall also motivate the people to participate in relief efforts.

The government has undertaken well-coordinated programmes at all levels for tackling the flood situation. Affected people have been provided sanctuary in 1175 flood shelters. Apart from food, pure drinking water, clothing and cash assistance, corrugated irons sheets and housing grants are also being distributed for assistance and rehabilitation of the flood-affected. Healthcare services are being provided by constituting medical teams at district and upazila levels. All relevant ministries, divisions and departments including food and disaster management, agriculture, health and communication ministries have been directed to undertake all required programmes for relief, rehabilitation and prevention of diseases through public health measures. Water has already started receding in some parts of the country. The programmes for agricultural rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses would be geared up immediately after recession of flood-waters.

My Dear Countrymen,

Any natural calamity like floods provides an opportunity to the nation to become united. Such an opportunity has arrived now. I urge all strata of the country’s population irrespective of classes and professions to come forward liberally for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people. In the past also, people belonging to various classes and professions extended helping hands for the distressed. I have firm faith that they would do so this time as well.

Those of you who want to take part in relief efforts can donate cash and relief materials to the Chief Adviser’s Relief Fund at the central level and to the district committees at the local level. The government will welcome your participation in relief and rehabilitation, public healthcare and other related tasks in coordination with the disaster management committees at the district and upazila levels. We shall also welcome spontaneous assistance of our development partners at home and aboard.

I am firmly optimistic, we shall be able to overcome this natural disaster through the combined and united efforts of our civil and military administration and people belonging to various sectors and professions.

There has been a rising trend in the prices of some commodities along with the advent of floods. I would like to urge the business community to demonstrate their social accountability by striving to rein in the prices of commodities within tolerable limits. The monitoring of prices is also being geared up at various levels of the government.

My Dear Countrymen,

The people of this country have an unconquerable spirit and an indomitable will. Our common citizens may be poor, but they are infinitely patient and courageous. Their resilience in the face of even grave danger is amazing. They have repeatedly earned the respect and acclaim of the global community by swiftly returning to normalcy after overcoming the ravages of natural disasters. This invincible spirit is quite rare on this planet.

I have firm faith that as in the past, we shall be able to successfully tackle the present calamity through our united efforts. Come, let us all join our hands and stand beside the helpless flood-ravaged people by being imbued with the spirit of people’s welfare and patriotism. Let us fight the disaster with whatever we have in our hands.

May the Almighty Creator help us in this collective endeavour.

Allah Hafez.