PM monitoring govt’s coordinated flood response: Mahdi

Prime Minister's Adviser and PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Saturday that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is closely monitoring the country's worsening flood situation and has directed a coordinated nationwide response involving government agencies, security forces and the ruling party to assist affected communities.

Speaking at a press briefing, Mahdi said torrential rainfall across the country has triggered flooding, landslides and severe waterlogging, with the worst-hit districts being Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.

He said the prime minister has held meetings with divisional and district-level officials, including commissioners, deputy inspectors general, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, civil surgeons and Fire Service officials, issuing specific instructions to ensure relief reaches affected people and rescue operations continue effectively.

According to the adviser, the prime minister will also meet divisional commissioners to review the situation and provide further directives. A coordinated response has been put in place involving local administrations, law enforcement agencies and emergency services from the upazila to the national level.

Mahdi said the government has mobilised all relevant ministries, while the state minister for power has already travelled to Chattogram on the prime minister's instructions to oversee response efforts. Local lawmakers and political leaders have also been deployed to their constituencies.

He added that as Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique has instructed the party and its affiliated organisations– including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal– to participate in rescue and relief activities alongside local authorities.

The adviser said the prime minister has approved more than Tk2 crore in emergency financial assistance, with relief supplies being distributed to affected families. Efforts are also underway to provide rice and other essential support to households that have lost homes or livelihoods.

Authorities have suspended Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations in the worst-affected districts of the Chattogram Division, while more than 1,000 emergency shelters have been opened with food, drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Mahdi said the Coast Guard has been deployed in coastal areas, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in border regions, and the Bangladesh Army in areas where additional support is required.

The government has also mobilised medical teams to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, stockpiled medicines and snakebite treatments, and prepared vaccines where necessary. Relevant agencies, including the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and Roads and Highways Department, have been instructed to prepare for the rapid restoration of damaged roads and railways once floodwaters recede.

He said the government is preparing to launch expanded food assistance programmes and has begun planning compensation and rehabilitation measures for people who have suffered losses in agriculture, fisheries and livestock.

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Despite disruptions to mobile communications in some areas, Mahdi said local officials, political leaders and volunteers are working to maintain contact with affected communities and ensure assistance reaches those in need.

"The government is simultaneously focusing on rescue, relief and rehabilitation under the prime minister's leadership," he said, urging all sections of society to unite in supporting flood victims.

Mahdi said the government remains committed to protecting lives, ensuring relief, food, clean water and sanitation for affected communities, and helping flood-hit families recover as quickly as possible.