‘Will stand by you’: PM visits cyclone-hit areas, distributes relief

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has distributed relief materials among the cyclone-affected people, reiterating that her government and her party will stand by them as long as they need assistance to rebuild their lives.

"We are beside you, will remain there and will provide all kinds of assistance that are needed," she said while addressing a relief distribution programme at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College at Kalapara in Patuakhali today (30 May), organised by the district administration.

She said the overall development of this southern region was possible only because the Awami League has been in power with people's mandate.

"Many came to power before us, but they did not take up any development activities for this region," she said, reiterating that improving people's living standard has always been the main goal of her government.

"Natural calamities will come, but we have to face those to reach our goal," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said this time the tidal waves were much higher compared with what happened during previous cyclones. She thanked the people for coming to the cyclone shelters that were built by the government.

She said the Awami League government is doing whatever is needed to ensure the basic needs of the people.

"The socioeconomic development is happening in the country as non-stop democracy has been prevailing in the country," she said.

Earlier, the prime minister distributed relief materials among the victims of the cyclone Remal in the area.

She also inspected the devastation caused by this week's cyclone in the district from a helicopter.

Mathbaria and Patharghata in Kalapara were among the hardest-hit areas when the cyclone roaring from the Bay of Bengal hit the Bangladesh coast on Sunday.

The cyclone also left at least 16 people dead and many injured amid massive evacuation of people to cyclone shelters in an operation constantly monitored by the prime minister from Dhaka.