Different units and contingents of Bangladesh Armed Forces
have been working tirelessly to rescue flood victims in Moulvibazar, Habiganj,
Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachari as the flood situation worsened in
the country’s north-eastern and south-eastern regions.
In the last 24 hours, Bangladesh Armed Forces’ personnel
rescued approximately 9,500 flood-affected people and sent them to various
shelters through around 55 boats and helicopters in the flood-hit districts,
said an ISPR press release. Besides, relief and food items have been
distributed by the armed forces to around 5,000 flood victims. In addition, a
large number of medical teams of the armed forces have been deployed to provide
medical assistance to the flood-hit districts. On August 23, a pregnant woman,
Mst Sumi Begum, was rescued in critical condition from Phulgazi Police Station
in Feni and sent her to Cumilla CMH by an army helicopter. Later, she gave
birth to a son.
In addition to depositing a sum equal to one day's salary of
all ranks of the armed forces to the Chief Adviser's relief fund for the flood
victims, emergency relief collection activities were also being conducted by
the members of the armed forces under their own management. On August 23, the
chiefs of the Army and Air Force and the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the
Armed Forces Division observed the flood-hit areas from helicopter and provided
necessary guidance to the members of the armed forces engaged in rescue work.