If the US war ships do not go back after completing the relief operation, the government will be only responsible, says Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury

If the US war ships do not go back after completing the relief operation, the government will be only responsible, says Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury
Habibullah Mizan
Staff Reporter
The New Nation
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Cell: +008801552328436

Bikalpa Dara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury demanded of the government to declare the three mostly affected districts as disaster zones immediately.

He also urged the government to launch ‘work for cash’ programme in the cyclone affected area.

He was speaking at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity after returning from the SIDR affected area.

Bargona, Pirojpur and Bagerhat districts must be declared disaster zones while the Sandurbans should be treated separately, he said.

Placing many short term and long term recommendations for rehabilitation programme he said, ‘‘ To increase the purchasing capacity of the cyclone affected people, government must start ‘work for cash’ programme instead of work for food.’’

While replying to a question of the newsmen, Bikalpa Dara President said, ‘‘The government will be only responsible, if the US war ships do not go back after completing the relief operation.’’
It is good if the war ships carry ‘relief items’ instead of weapons, he observed.
B Chowdhury , also former president refused to reply to a question from this correspondent whether they would support or oppose if the government accepts any offer of Israeli humanitarian assistance for the cyclone affected distressed people , he said,‘‘ The question is a hypothetical ’’.

However, his son Mahi B Chowdhury , organising secretary of the party told The New Nation, ‘‘ If the Israeli government really wants to provide relief, they can do the job easily through any third party like the USA.’’

Prof B Chowdhury claimed, there is no relation between relief operation and lifting of emergency from the country.

Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan, Secretary General, Bikalpa Dara suggested the government to provide VGF cards, seeds and agricultural loans as part of a rehabilitation programme.

Bikalpa Dara presidium member Prof Dr Nurul Amin Bepari, Maj Gen(Retd) M Halim, Joynal Abedin, Giasuddin Chowdhury and central member Saju Kamal, among others, were present at the press briefing.