Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday distributed relief materials among the victims of Cyclone Remal, after inspecting the damage by helicopter. The relief distribution programme was held at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College at Kolapara in Patuakhali, organised by district administration.

Earlier, she flew by a helicopter over Mathbaria and Pathorghata areas in Patuakhali district to get a bird's eye view of the devastation caused by this week's cyclone.

The helicopter carrying the PM landed at the helipad adjoining to Khepupara Govt Model Secondary School, Kalapara of Patukhali district at 12:20pm today after around one and a half hours of ride from Dhaka.

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

The prime minister's helicopter at some points flew just above the ground so she could have a better view of the damage caused by the cyclone that triggered tidal surges and torrential rains washing away embankments, fish farms, felling houses and trees along the coast.

After relief distribution she visited the Shaheed Sheikh Kamal Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata road.

'We will always stand by you'

The PM pledged that her government and the Awami League party will stand by them as long as they need the assistance to rebuild their lives.

"We are beside you, will remain there and will provide all kinds of assistance that is needed," she told the crowd.

The prime minister was addressing the relief distribution programme at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College at Kolapara organised by the district administration.

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

PM Hasina witnesses cyclone devastation in Patuakhali from aboard helicopter

"Many came to power before us, but they did not take up any development activities for this region," she said.

She once again said that improving the living standard of the people has been the main aim of the government.

"Natural calamities will come, but we have to face those to reach our goal of maintaining the living standards of the people," she said. "We are working on this."

She said that 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.

Hasina said that the Awami League government is doing whatever is needed for ensuring basic needs of the people.

She said that the government is standing beside the people in this natural calamities as the country is blessed with continued democracy.

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

The prime minister said that efforts are on to repair the damaged roads, while construction of the broken dams has also started. Measures have also been taken to protect villages from flash floods by rebuilding the dams before monsoon.

She said that the government will also rebuild the houses destroyed by the cyclone, and assured the people of taking other necessary steps, including providing seeds and fertilizers, so that the farmers can re-cultivate the rice and wheat crops that have been destroyed.

"We are working for the overall welfare of the people of the country so they don't face food and other problems," she said.

PM Hasina later sat with the divisional level officials to review the relief operation and assess the immediate rehabilitation needs of the affected people.

Wrapping up her day-long programme to the area Hasina is scheduled to leave for Dhaka at 3 pm, according to her office.

Besides claiming lives Cyclone Remal inflicted Tk 260 million worth of damage on the agricultural sector while the fishery sector's losses are estimated to be over Tk 280 million, said official sources.

On the embankments

Prior to visiting the affected areas, Prime Minister Hasina directed officials to immediately repair river banks and embankments damaged by Cyclone Remal. The directive came during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, or ECNEC.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, planning minister Major General (retd) Abdus Salam said that the prime minister in the meeting asked the authorities concerned to speedily repair the damaged embankments in the coastal areas owing to the impact of cyclone Remal.

State minister for planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, Planning Division senior secretary Satyajit Karmakar, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present at the briefing.

"The damaged embankments must be repaired speedily as monsoon is approaching," Salam said, quoting the prime minister.

He informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also directed to ensure safe water in the affected areas so that water-borne diseases could not spread.