Leaders of the Sammilita Sangkskritik Jote, a platform for cultural organisations, yesterday urged the government to withdraw all restrictions from campaign for collection of relief for flood victims in view of the immense suffering they are facing.

It would be difficult to collect relief materials from people of all walks of life as per government directives as a rickshawpuller would not go to the chief adviser's office to donate Tk 5 or Tk 10 or a housewife would not feel free to go to district commissioner's office to donate 10 breads, they said at a press conference.

The leaders said they want to conduct mass relief collection drive so that people willingly come forward to donate money or any other materials for flood-affected people.

Sangskritik Jote President Nasiruddin Yusuf, General Secretary Golam Kuddus, VicePresident Prof Md Samad Azad and Ramendu Majumder were present at the press conference held at the Teacher Student Centre of Dhaka University (DU).

The leaders urged the students of DU to participate in the relief activities.

Later, former president of the organisation Ramendu Majumder formally inaugurated a relief collection drive by donating Tk 10,000 from his fund and Tk 25,000 from 'Expressions'.

The DU authorities have allocated one room of the TSC building to the organisation to conduct their relief activities properly.