Staff Correspondent

The BNP has collected cash and relief materials worth about Tk20 crore for flood-affected people in the eastern districts of the country.

The party is using the funds and relief materials to provide essential supplies and support post-flood rehabilitation efforts to alleviate the suffering of flood victims, BNP standing committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said at a press conference on Friday.

Besides, he said the leaders and workers of the party distributed relief materials in the flood-hit areas on their own initiatives.

“We the BNP and its family have collected cash and relief materials valued at over Tk20 crore since August 25 for the flood-affected areas,” said Zahid, the head of the BNP relief collection committee.

He stated that they have already spent a significant portion of the raised funds on providing relief and carrying out rehabilitation efforts in the flood-affected areas of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Cumilla, Khagrachari, Habiganj, and parts of Chattogram and Chandpur that were also impacted by the floods.

The BNP relief collection committee arranged the press conference at party's Nayapaltan central office.

Zahid said their initial relief effort focused on rescuing people affected by the flood. “Subsequently, we provided food to those in need. Local leaders from the party's district, upazila, and municipality units managed these efforts.”

He noted that even though the BNP is not in power, the party's leaders and activists have remained committed to standing by the people as part of their responsibility as a political party.

"In our relief collection, we have received support not only from BNP members but also from common people, housewives, rickshaw pullers, and ordinary workers. We have kept records of every donation and provided receipts to those who contributed," Zahid said.

He mentioned that they also declined to accept large sums of money from various individuals on ethical grounds. "We have been transparent in our relief collection, and we remain equally transparent in our distribution of aid."

The BNP leader said currently they have over 7 crore taka in their long-standing BNP Central Relief and Rehabilitation Fund to support the rehabilitation effort.

As the water is receding, he said outbreaks of disease have begun, including some infectious illnesses, in the flood-hit areas. “Medical camps have been set up in the affected areas. Our doctors are not only visiting the patients but also providing ample free medication. The Ziaur Rahman Foundation, Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB), and leaders and activists from all levels of the party are collaborating in this effort.”

Zahid said the flood badly affected the farmers as everything has been washed away. “Where will the farmers get seeds? We have transported a large quantity of paddy seeds or seedlings from Jamalpur, Brahmanbaria, and Tangail to the affected areas, and farmers are now planting these seeds in their fields."

Following the direction of BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman, he said they have initiated post-flood rehabilitation efforts, including distributing educational materials to children and assisting in the construction of homes for those affected.

The BNP leader also mentioned that they will provide support to the families of the 137 martyrs who lost their lives in the student-led movement in the eastern part of the country.