Prime Minister Tarique Rahman handed over the keys to newly built houses for families whose homes were destroyed in the recent floods in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram.
The Prime Minister visited the flood-affected West Banshkhali area under Baharchhara Union around 1:20pm as part of his programme to rehabilitate flood-hit families.
During the visit, he spoke with affected residents and inquired about the wellbeing of their families. He also planted a mahogany sapling in the area.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu and senior government officials accompanied the Prime Minister.
Later, Tarique Rahman attended a programme titled “House Handover, Grant and Relief Materials Distribution” at Banshkhali High School and College ground, organised for the rehabilitation of flood-affected families.
Under the government rehabilitation initiative, 100 families in Banshkhali were selected to receive newly constructed houses.
The houses were built with government funding using RCC pillars, wood and corrugated iron sheets to improve their resilience to natural disasters. Each house has two rooms and an attached toilet.
Heavy rainfall and hill runoff since July 7 inundated several remote and low-lying areas of Banshkhali, damaging homes as well as fish farms, ponds and other water bodies.
Earlier, the Prime Minister visited Matarbari in Maheshkhali to inspect development activities, including the Matarbari deep-sea port and coal-fired power project.
After completing his Banshkhali programme, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to travel to Fatikchhari to meet Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasah.
He will then visit Hathazari and attend another rehabilitation programme for flood victims at Hathazari Government College ground at 5:00pm.
In the evening, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend an organisational meeting at the auditorium of Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View hotel before returning to Dhaka by a flight from Hazrat Shah Amanat International Airport at 9:30pm.
The visit marks Tarique Rahman’s first trip to Maheshkhali, Fatikchhari and Hathazari since assuming office.
