TDS Desk:

Around 20 lakh people in 18 districts were affected by the ongoing flood caused by torrential rains and onrush of upstream water, said state minister for disaster management and relief Md Mohibur Rahman.

He came up with the development at the end of the inter-ministerial meeting on the flood situation of the country in the meeting room of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at the Secretariat on Sunday.

The state minister said that about 3,000 shelters have been opened for the flood victims. About 40,000 people have taken shelter in these shelters. 619 medical teams have been formed to treat the flood victims.

He said that the flood situation is prevailing in different parts of the country as a result of the water coming down from the upstream and heavy rainfall recently. The Prime Minister in the last Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting directed everyone to be prepared to deal with possible floods. Accordingly, maximum efforts are being made to deal with the flood. Besides, communication is being done with the flood-affected District Administrators through virtual meetings.

Mohibbur Rahman said, I went to visit the Sylhet area during the first round of floods due to the heavy rains and landslides coming down from the upstream. Relief materials are being sent to flood-affected areas.

The state minister also said that 21,700 metric tons of rice, 5 crore 47 lakh cash, 65,500 packets of dry and other food, 40 lakh taka for cow food and 40 lakh taka for baby food have been allocated in 18 districts so far for the flood victims.

Besides, 2,500 packets of dry and other food have been allocated in Sylhet-3, Sunamganj-1 and Moulvibazar-2 parliamentary constituencies, he said.