Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to help people affected by recent hailstorms and flash floods in various parts of the country during the ongoing holiday.

The prime minister gave the directive at a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday (17 March), which he chaired. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani told journalists after the meeting.

Saying the meeting had discussed recent disasters in various regions outside its agenda, the cabinet secretary said: "As you know, at this time there has already been some hail in the north, and flash floods in the north-east. So the agriculture and relief ministries have been directed to work together on these."

He said: "During this holiday they will prepare packages... District commissioners have already been told to hand out the supply packages they have in hand. Beyond that, whatever other support is needed, they will work out and provide in the meantime."

The agriculture and relief ministries will work during the holiday on the help needed to ease people's suffering from the hail and flash floods, working out the details and providing whatever support is required.

Nasimul Gani added that district commissioners have already been told to spend the local funds they hold.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.