'Public Relief' campaign at TSC gains momentum

The ongoing flood situation in southeastern Bangladesh has reached a critical level. Thousands of people have been left homeless after losing their homes, and they are now struggling to meet basic needs like food, water, and shelter. Their lives are currently in a miserable state.

According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, a total of 4,938,159 people have been affected across 12 districts, with 944,548 families impacted. The death toll from the floods stands at 18, including four in Cumilla, one in Feni, five in Chattogram, three in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur, and three in Cox’s Bazar.

Amid this dire situation, the “Public Relief” campaign has been initiated by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to address the ongoing flood crisis. This initiative is being held at the Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University (DU). The general public has also stepped forward to support the flood victims, contributing to the success of this campaign.

A visit to TSC on Sunday, revealed that since the morning, various voluntary organizations, students, and ordinary citizens have been gathering there. Some have brought dry food, water, and medicine, while others have donated old clothes or blankets. The primary goal of this initiative is to alleviate the suffering of flood-affected people by providing them with even a small amount of aid.

Upon entering the TSC grounds, piles of relief supplies could be seen everywhere. Bags of rice and lentils were stacked in one place, while rows of water and oil bottles were lined up elsewhere. Essential medicines, flashlights, and other supplies were being stored on the second floor of the TSC. In addition to DU students, students from other educational institutions in the capital were sitting in the TSC field, packing relief materials late into the night.
Once the packing is complete, trucks loaded with relief supplies leave every night for the flood-affected areas of Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Sylhet, and Chattogram.

Today (Sunday), on the third day of the “Public Relief” campaign, a total of Tk 83.90 lakh was collected in cash between 10 AM and 4 PM, said one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Hasnat Abdullah.

On the second day of the campaign, last Saturday, 22.55 million BDT was collected solely from the booths. On the first day, Friday, a total of 14.25 million BDT was collected via cash and mobile banking channels, with 10.82 million BDT in cash. Thus, over the course of three days, the "Public Relief" campaign has collected approximately Tk 3.10 crore.

Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah emphasized that ensuring proper distribution of the relief is more important than just collecting it. He explained that, without careful coordination with the district commissioners, the relief might be sent repeatedly to the same areas, leaving others in need without support.

Abdullah Adib, a businessman, said, "I saw on the news, on television, and on social media how people are stranded in floodwaters, with tears in their eyes and a look of helplessness on their faces. We cannot sit idly by in such a disaster. So, some friends and I gathered food, medicine, and some cash to bring here. We all need to step forward, each according to our ability."

He added that upon arriving at TSC, he saw people from all walks of life stepping forward to help. He expressed hope that even more people would join in this effort.

In this relief collection effort at TSC, people of all ages, alongside the youth, have actively participated. Government agencies, NGOs, and local administrations are also working jointly to manage the relief efforts and provide shelter to those in need. However, this grassroots initiative and the willingness of ordinary people to extend a helping hand have inspired the entire nation.

Another coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Pritom Sohag, said, “In this time of crisis, such initiatives by the public prove that humanity still exists among us. We are ready to come together and fight any disaster as one.”

Although the floodwaters are slowly receding, the outpouring of support and love from the people shows no sign of stopping. People are helping people, and this solidarity gives us hope and courage, Sohag added.