Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has raised Tk20 crore in cash and relief materials to aid post-flood rehabilitation efforts in the country’s eastern districts, as part of an initiative led by the party.
This substantial fund was gathered through contributions from BNP leaders, workers, and the general public, the party announced on Friday.
At a press conference held at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, head of the BNP relief collection committee, outlined the party’s response to the recent floods.
“We are using the funds and relief materials to provide essential supplies and support post-flood rehabilitation efforts to alleviate the suffering of flood-affected people,” Dr. Zahid stated. He also emphasized that BNP members have been actively distributing relief materials in the affected areas since August 25, with over Tk20 crore worth of cash and supplies collected during this period.
The relief efforts have been focused on several flood-hit areas, including Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Cumilla, Khagrachari, Habiganj, and parts of Chattogram and Chandpur.
Dr. Zahid said, “The party initially concentrated on rescue operations and providing food to flood victims, with local BNP leaders managing the relief distribution.”
Dr. Zahid highlighted that the donations came not only from BNP members but also from a wide range of supporters, including ordinary citizens, housewives, rickshaw pullers, and workers.
He noted that every contribution was recorded, and receipts were issued for all donations. The BNP also rejected large sums of money from individuals on ethical grounds, ensuring transparency and fairness in their relief efforts.
As the floodwaters recede, concerns have shifted to the outbreak of diseases, including infectious illnesses. The BNP has responded by setting up medical camps in affected areas, where party-affiliated doctors, along with the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), are providing free medical care and medication to flood victims.
The party’s relief efforts have also targeted farmers, who were severely impacted by the flood as crops and seeds were washed away. To support them, the BNP has transported paddy seeds and seedlings from regions like Jamalpur, Brahmanbaria, and Tangail to help affected farmers replant their fields.
In line with directions from the BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the party has also initiated post-flood rehabilitation programs that include distributing educational materials to children and assisting with home reconstruction for those whose houses were damaged.
Dr. Zahid concluded by stating that the BNP will continue its support to families affected by the floods, including providing aid to the families of 137 martyrs who lost their lives in the student-led movement in the eastern part of the country.