A Correspondent:
Banshkhali, Chattogram: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday handed over keys of newly built houses to families, whose homes were destroyed in the recent floods in Banshkhali upazila of Chatto-gram.
The Prime Minister handed over the keys to the beneficiaries after visiting the flood-affected West Banshkhali area under Baharchhara Union yesterday noon as part of his program to rehabilitate the flood-hit people.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also talked to the affected people and inquired about the wellbeing of their families. Later, he also planted a ‘mahogany’ sapling in the area.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Disaster Man-agement and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu and other senior officials accompanied the Prime Minis-ter.
Later, the Prime Minister attended a program titled “House Handover, Grant and Relief Materials Distri-bution” at the Banshkhali High School and College ground, organized for the rehabilitation of families affected by the recent floods in Chattogram.
Under the government rehabilitation initiative, 100 flood-affected families in Banshkhali were selected to receive the keys of the newly built houses.
Earlier, 100 affected families had been identified to receive the houses, which were constructed with government funding using RCC pillars, wood and corrugated iron sheets to make them more resilient to natural disasters, with each house having two rooms and an attached toilet.
Heavy rain and hill runoff since July 7 inundated several remote and low-lying areas of Banshkhali, damaging homes and affecting fish farms, ponds and other water bodies.
The Prime Minister earlier visited Matarbari in Maheshkhali to inspect development activities, including the Matarbari deep-sea port and coal-fired power project.
After completing his Banshkhali programme, the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Fatikchhari, where he will meet Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasah.
He will later visit Hathazari and attend another rehabilitation programme for flood victims at Hathazari Government College ground at 5:00 pm.
In the evening, the prime minister will attend an organisational meeting at the auditorium of Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View hotel in Chattogram.
After completing his engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka by a flight from Hazrat Shah Amanat International Airport at 9:30 pm.
The visit marks Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first trip to Maheshkhali, Fatikchhari and Hathazari after assuming office.
