Prime Minister's Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today spoke at a press briefing at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 14, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities to ensure prompt healthcare and relief support for flood-hit people, including adequate stocks of antivenom injections and emergency medical supplies in vulnerable areas, PM's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said today. 

"The Premier instructed the field administration to remain on maximum alert and work in close coordination to protect lives and address the humanitarian needs of people in flood-affected and remote areas," he told a government's weekly press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat here.

Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Riasat Al Wasif, among others, were present at the briefing.

The prime minister issued the directives during a virtual meeting held on Sunday with divisional commissioners, deputy inspectors general (DIGs) of police, deputy commissioners (DCs), superintendents of police (SPs), civil surgeons and other field-level officials of all eight divisions, the information adviser said.

He said the premier asked the authorities to ensure the uninterrupted supply of relief materials, dry food, safe drinking water, baby food, essential medicines and healthcare services in the affected areas without any negligence.

The prime minister also stressed the need to give priority to the safety and medical care of women, children, elderly people, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.

Dr. Zahed said leave of all health officials and employees in 11 flood-affected districts has been cancelled to ensure uninterrupted emergency health services, while the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Bangladesh Army are assisting the civil administration in relief operations in the remote areas.

Highlighting the government's preparedness against snakebite incidents during floods, particularly in hilly and riverine regions, he said adequate stocks of antivenom injections and oral rehydration salts (ORS) have been ensured across the country.

"There is no reason for people to panic. The government is fully prepared," he said, adding that sufficient antivenom injections have been kept at every district and upazila, alongside adequate oral saline to treat waterborne diarrhoeal diseases.

According to the briefing, 21,000 anti-snake venom injections are currently available at the grassroots level, while another 1,000 doses are in central reserve.

The government has also stockpiled 399,879 bags of cholera saline, about 75.9 lakh packets of oral saline, 36.2 lakh water purification tablets, 99,995 bags of normal saline and 119,920 dengue diagnostic kits at field and central levels.

Special medical teams are working round the clock in flood-affected areas to 
provide primary healthcare, medicines and oral saline.

The adviser said floods have affected seven districts-- Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Moulvibazar and Habiganj--covering 346 unions and municipalities under 59 upazilas

Around 700,000 people have been stranded by floodwaters, while the death toll has risen to 54.

The government has opened 1,049 shelters for displaced people, the adviser said, urging the residents in vulnerable areas to move there immediately.

Dr. Zahed also assured that the country has adequate food reserves, saying government warehouses currently hold a record 2,326,160 metric tonnes of food grains, sufficient to meet the needs arising from any disaster.

Referring to relief efforts in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, he said the State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs recently visited Chattogram, Hathazari and Rangamati to inspect flood-and landslide-affected areas and distribute humanitarian assistance from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

He said the Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs has opened a control room while 1,300 metric tonnes of rice have been allocated for humanitarian assistance in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts.

The ministry's secretary and other senior officials are currently supervising relief operations and assessing damage in the affected areas.