Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, MP today said the government is working with the highest priority to ensure rehabilitation, relief assistance and healthcare services for people affected by floods in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Sylhet and other flood-hit districts.

He made the remarks at a press conference held after an inter-ministerial meeting at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat this afternoon.

The minister said the meeting, organised by the Ministry of Local Government, was attended by the ministers of the ministries of Health, Agriculture and Water Resources, along with the relevant secretaries and senior officials.

He said the meeting took important decisions on post-flood rehabilitation, assessment of damage to the agricultural sector, addressing health risks and the speedy reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

The minister said although severe flooding occurred in the CHT, Cox's Bazar and Chattogram regions due to heavy rainfall, floodwaters have started receding in many areas. The government's immediate priority is now to ensure the swift rehabilitation of the affected families, he added.

Mentioning that 59 upazilas, 368 unions and 12 municipalities in a total of eight districts, including Sylhet, have been affected by floods, he said that according to preliminary estimates, around 609,411 families have been affected.

So far, reports have confirmed the deaths of 54 people. Most of them died in landslides, he added.

The minister said the government has already allocated Taka 1.75 crore and 3,250 metric tonnes of rice to carry out emergency relief operations in the affected areas, alongside dry food is also being distributed. In addition, Taka 20 lakh has been allocated to each affected district from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Asadul Habib Dulu said the supply of cooked food and dry food at shelter centres is continuing, while Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard have been deployed for rescue operations.

Speedboats and rubber boats have also been sent by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to assist the rescue efforts, he said.

He said the relevant agencies have been assigned to undertake the rapid repair of damaged roads and infrastructure. 

The Roads and Highways Department will repair highways and roads, while infrastructure under the Local Government Division will also be repaired promptly, he said, adding that necessary measures will be taken to repair rural earthen roads and the food-friendly programme will continue in the flood-affected areas.

The minister said the Ministry of Health has taken necessary preparations to address various health risks, including waterborne diseases, in the post-flood period. 

At the same time, necessary measures will be taken to rehabilitate farmers after assessing the damage to the agricultural sector, he added.

Highlighting that this year's flood is one of the worst disasters to hit the Chattogram region, the minister said for this reason, the Prime Minister has attached the highest importance to the matter, holding several meetings with the relevant ministries, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners and providing necessary directives.

He said, following the Prime Minister's directives, he will begin field visits to the flood-affected areas from Wednesday.