Tarique for not considering political, religious identity while aiding flood-hit people

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday (23 August) called upon the leaders and workers of the party to extend support to flood-affected people without irrespective of their political or religious identity.

"Stand beside the flood-hit people in a coordinated way. Extend hands of cooperation to them. Provide food, clothes, treatment and medicine and take measures for the people affected by the flood," he said in a video message.

Referring to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina as an "autocrat", Tarique said she had created jealousy, hatred and division among the people.

"But my sincere request to you, please do not prioritise anyone's political and religious identity while providing humanitarian aid," he said addressing BNP men.

He also urged the partymen to support the government and administration in extending cooperation to the flood-affected people.

Addressing the countrymen, the BNP acting chairman said, "If we regardless of parties and opinions stand by the flood-affected people in unison and come forward from our respective capacity in extending support to the affected people, definitely we will be able to face the situation by the grace of Almighty Allah."    

He said lakhs of people have been stranded in the country's northeastern and southeastern regions by flash floods.   

Tarique said the flood-hit districts after districts in the eastern region caused suffering to lakhs of people.

Lives have been lost and properties have been damaged, he said.

Noting that people's lives have been disrupted by the devastating floods, Tarique blamed India for this flash flood in Bangladesh.

He said no internal factor in Bangladesh caused the flood. Though heavy rain occurred in the flood-hit areas, this is not the main reason for the flood in the eastern region. Rather, the main cause of this flood is the irresponsibility and whimsicality of the Tripura state administration of the upstream neighbouring country India.

Tarique Rahman said they [India] suddenly opened the dam and submerged the vast area of Bangladesh but they did not give any advance warning to Bangladesh.

As a result, he said Bangladesh did not even get a chance to make minimum preparations for dealing with the flood.

Under these circumstances, there is no time to waste by making complaints and counter-complaints, he said, adding that BNP believes that protecting the lives and properties of flood-affected people is the main priority at this moment.

Tarique urged BNP leaders and workers of the party and its associate and front organisations across the country, especially from areas that are unaffected by the flood to stand by the flood-affected people in a coordinated way.