Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia Saturday called upon the cyclone affected peo pie to (ace the crisis with courage and moral strength, reports BSS

While addressing a sponta neous gathering at Ramgatl tn Luxmipur district she assured the people that the govern me nt would always remain by the side of the affected peo

The Prime Minister Saturday visited the cyclone affected areas of Sonagazt. Charbata. Burirchar. Jahajmara

of Armed Forces along with the teams of non government and voluntary organisations have been working round-the clock to bring succour to the distressed The affected areas of Sonagaal wlH need more cash money. house building materials for redressing the sufferings of the people moat of whom are living tn open

Local members of Parba ment Mohammad Shahjahan and Barkatullah Bulu apprised the Prime Minister of the latest situation In Charbata They told her a number of

and Ramgatl to see the extent of damage and the relief and rehabilitation activities going on there.

The local administration In Sonagazi told the Prime Minister 80 per cent of kutcha and semi-pucca houses and 50 to 60 per cent of crops were totally damaged by the devastating cyclone of April 29. The embankment of Muhurl Irrigation Project has collapsed at several places.

The Prime Minister was informed relief materials including chapattt. rice and medicine have reached the affected places. The relief teams

cluster villages had been extensively damaged there. The worst-affected places of the area are Char Clark and Tomball Char. The leaders further told the Prime Minister the rescue teams of Ansar were working for rebuilding the dwelling house which were razed to the ground. The relief teams of Armed Forces are distributing bread, water purifying tablets and medicines among the affected people. Charbata also experienced heavy rainfall Friday.

The Prime Minister, who flew tn a helicopter, made an

unscheduled landing on Burirchar where 10.000 people are feared to have died in the cyclone. The local administration told the Prime Minister the relief materials had reached the affected places of the island. The relief teams of Armed Forces, local administration. Red Crescent and other voluntary organisations are taking part in the affected areas. The affected people of Burirchar need cash money and house building materials Immediately.

The local administration told the Prime Minister that the cross dam had broken in Jahajmara where four thousand people are feared to have been killed.

The affected people urged the Prime Minister to arrange for sea-trucks for transporting relief to Hatta and Char Jabbar.

She was told that Taka five lakh in cash and other relief materials had been provided to Luxmipur under gratuity relief.

During her visit to the affected areas. Begum Zia talked to the people and enquired about their damage.

She was accompanied by State Minister for Textile Abdul Mannan and Jahanara Begum MP.