Take prompt steps to help affected people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the authorities concerned to take prompt measures to provide money and relief materials to Amphan-affected people, and reconstruct their houses.

She gave directives to start providing the support from yesterday, said a media release issued by the Press Wing of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The work on calculating the overall damages caused to houses, embankments and roads by the cyclone started yesterday morning. Besides, distribution of relief materials and pure drinking water, and repairing of damaged power supply lines in cyclone-hit areas also began.

"The prime minister has been monitoring the situation round the clock and giving necessary directives," said PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.

Following the directives of the PM, all district and upazila level officials have already been asked to work in coordination with the ministries and organisations concerned to estimate the damages and take measures accordingly, he said.

The PMO secretary and directors in coordination with the deputy commissioners of the affected districts have already started work to estimate the damages caused by the cyclone.

The PMO officials will also remain active during the Eid holidays. The PMO always remains open, including on public holidays, due to the novel coronavirus lockdown.

The premier has been clearing files regularly offline and online and giving necessary directives considering the overall situation.

She also joined the meetings of the cabinet, Ecnec, budget and the National Disaster Management Council as well as video conferences with leaders and grassroots officials from 64 districts in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PMO has tirelessly been working for the last two days to safely evacuate people to cyclone shelter centres, arranging food and treatment facilities for the affected people, and to maintain social distancing.