Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that her party Awami League was always sincerely dedicated to the development of the country and its people.
鈥榃e are beside you [countrymen], [we] will remain there and will provide all kinds of assistance what are needed,鈥� she said.
The prime minister said while addressing a relief distribution programme at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College at Kolapara in Patuakhali organised by the district administration.
Mentioning that the overall development of this southern region was only possible as AL is in power, she said, 鈥楾here were many people came to the power, but they didn鈥檛 do any development activities for this region.鈥�
She added protecting the living standard of the people was the main target of her government.
Sheikh Hasina said, 鈥楴atural calamities will come. Our target is to maintain the living standard of the people facing those (disasters), and we are working for that.鈥�
This time the tidal waves were much higher compared to the previous cyclones, she said. The prime minister thanked the people for taking shelter in the cyclone centres built by the government.
She said that the AL government was doing whatever was needed to ensure the basic needs of the people.
Her government has been able to stand beside the people during such natural calamities as the country is witnessing continued democracy, she said.
鈥楾he socioeconomic development is taking place in the country as continued democracy is prevailing here,鈥� she added.
Presided over by Kolapara Awami League vice-president Nirmal Nandi, state minister for disaster management and relief Md Mohibbur Rahman, Awami League joint secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and organising secretary Afzal Hossain also spoke.
Earlier, the prime minister distributed relief materials among the cyclone Remal-affected people of this area.
Sheikh Hasina also undertook an aerial visit to Mathbaria and Pathorghata areas of Patuakhali to see herself the trail of havoc caused by the recent cyclone Remal.
She witnessed the super storm Remal-affected two areas from the helicopter that was hovering just over the ground at a slow speed on her way to Patuakhali from Dhaka.
The helicopter carrying the prime minister landed at the helipad adjoining Khepupara Govt Model Secondary School at Kalapara of Patuakhali at 12:20pm after around one and a half hours flying from Dhaka.
She also visited the Shaheed Sheikh Kamal Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata road.
The prime minister later exchanged views with the divisional-level officials as well.
The Patuakhali district administration and the ruling Awami League had made all-out preparations for the prime minister鈥檚 visit to Patuakhali.
Severe cyclone Remal reportedly killed at least 13 people, destroyed over 35,000 homes, and seriously affected more than 37 lakh people in 19 districts of the country.
The storm made landfall near Khepupara of Patuakhali with a wind speed of up to 130kmph on Sunday evening.
As many as 3,27,000 people have so far been affected while some 235 houses were completely and 1,865 others were partially destroyed in Patuakhali.
The agricultural sector suffered losses of over Tk 260 million, while the fishery sector鈥檚 losses are estimated to be over Tk 280 million.
The prime minister expressed her gratitude to the countrymen for giving Awami League the opportunity to serve the people again, saying that now Kolapara can be reached by road within 6-7 hours as her government constructed roads and bridges for better communication.
She said that efforts had already been taken to repair the damaged roads, while construction of the broken dam also started and measures had been taken so that people could be saved from flash floods by rebuilding those before monsoon.
Sheikh Hasina said that they would also rehabilitate the houses destroyed by the cyclone, and assured the people of taking other necessary steps, including providing seeds and fertilisers, so that the farmers could re-cultivate rice and wheat crops on the affected fields.
鈥榃e are working for the overall development of the people of the country so that they do not suffer for food and other commodities,鈥� she said.
Referring to the implementation of various development projects, including the establishment of a cantonment and naval base, Payra Port and power plant in the region, the prime minister said that the overall development of this area had been possible because Awami League was in power.
鈥楨ven, though many people were in the government in the past, no one paid attention to development in this region,鈥� she added.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that this region was neglected and the people of this area have to live in constant war with nature, saying, 鈥楴atural calamities will occur but the goal of her government is to improve the quality of lives of people by tackling those and that is what they are doing.鈥�
Later, the prime minister exchanged views with the divisional level officials and gave necessary directives for the rehabilitation and development works in the region.