Dhaka, Aug 22 (UNB) - BNP on Thursday emphasized the urgent need to ramp up relief distribution efforts and evacuate people to safe shelters, as the country faces the most devastating flood in two and a half decades.
 
In a statement, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, alleged India has deliberately opened the gates of Dumbur Dam on the Gomti River in Tripura, causing the flood in Bangladesh's eastern districts, as it is indifferent to the people of Bangladesh and their safety.
 
Rizvi said hundreds of villages, roads and land have been submerged in vast areas of nine districts of the eastern part of the country due to the onrush of water from the upstream, disrupting public life.
 
He voiced concern that lakhs of people are currently living under dire conditions, marooned by floodwaters, while their cattle have been washed away and their crops submerged.
 
The BNP leader said that most parts of Feni, Cumilla, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Laxmipur, Noakhali and Chittagong remained underwater.
 
He said the lack of dry food, drinking water, essential medicines, and power supply has left people in the flood-hit areas in a dire situation.
 
Rizvi said the communication systems in various areas have been entirely severed from the district towns. "Approximately three million people have already been affected by the flood, with two reported deaths, and new areas are being inundated every minute. The water from the hills has completely inundated the lower areas of most of the district towns."
 
He said people have become helpless due to lack of adequate shelters. "Relief distribution to flood-affected districts should be intensified at this critical moment. All voluntary organisations and the government must come forward for rescue work to reach the flood-affected people to a safe place quickly. This year's flood is the worst in two and a half decades."
 
The BNP leader said there is widespread concern among people that flooding in the border districts of eastern Bangladesh has been caused by the opening of the gates of the Dumbur Dam on the Gomti River in Tripura, India.
 
In controlling the water flow of the common rivers to suit their own needs, Rizvi said India has endangered the interest of it neighbouring countries.
 
"It seems to me India is indifferent to the safety and well-being of the people of Bangladesh. They never take into account the life-and-death situations faced by Bangladeshis. The people of Bangladesh think that the gates of Dumbur Dam have been opened deliberately. India has never adhered to principles of fairness or justice in matters concerning Bangladesh," he observed.
 
In light of the worsening flood situation in the northeastern districts, Rizvi stated that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon the party's supporters and affiliated organizations to stand by the flood victims.
 
He also called upon the country's affluent and wealthy individuals to extend their helping hands towards the flood-hit people.
 
Rizvi said Tarique expressed hope that through collective efforts, the flood-affected people will overcome their losses and move forward with renewed determination.
 
END/UNB/ARJ/FH/1941 Hrs