Staff Correspondent

Losses amounting to Tk 6,880 crore have been incurred in 20 districts of the country due to severe cyclonic storm Remal, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman.

The State Minister was briefing reporters following an inter-ministerial meeting on the damages caused by Cyclone Remal at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday (June2).

Mohibbur Rahman said Cyclone Remal hit Bangladesh's coastal area on May 26 last, causing torrential rain and storm surges that inundated low-lying areas. At least 16 people were killed and a large number of roads, embankments, houses and social institutions were damaged.

Mentioning that various activities were taken for disaster preparedness, the state minister said: "We have conducted pre-disaster activities in coordination with all departments of the government. Now we are continuing the post-disaster activities. The day after Cyclone Remal hit, I personally contacted the MPs of the coastal districts over phone and inquired about the local people."

Regarding the damage, the state minister said that so far, Tk 5.75 crore cash, 5,500 metric tonnes of rice, 9,000 packets of dry food, 200 bundles of tin, Tk 2.45 crore for cattle feed and Tk 2.45 crore for baby food have been distributed in 19 districts.

The state minister also said: "Floods have been taking place in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Dinajpur districts over the past few days. Tk 20 lakh cash, 500 tons of rice, Tk 10 lakh cow fodder and Tk 10 lakh baby food have been distributed among the flood victims in Sylhet. In Sunamganj, Tk 15 lakh cash, Tk 5 lakh for cow fodder and Tk 5 lakh for baby food were distributed."

In Dinajpur, Tk 15 lakh in cash and Tk 3 lakh of dry and other food have been allotted.