"Not for any particular area, we are taking an overall programme to protect the whole city," she said while distributing relief goods among the flood affected people at Konapara Mannan High School in Matuail Union under Demara Police Station yesterday.

The sustainable programme to free the capital and its suburb from waterlogging and flood would, however, require a lot of money, the prime minister said.

She referred to her call for international assistance and hoped that "our foreign friends" would come forward in aid of the people.

The assessment of loss has already begun, she said.

The prime minister also addressed the flood-hit people in front of Lal Miah High School in Demra and and then distributed rice, pulse, potato, sari and lungi among them.

After distributing relief goods at Shaheed Zia Girls School at Uttar Jatrabari and a Mannan High School at Konapara under Matuail Union, the prime minister took an about three-kilometer ride on a BIWTA boat to see the flood-ravaged people in Dhitpur area.

She landed on the varanda of flood engulfed Lal Miah High School where about 1,000 affected people have taken shelter.

She made a brief address before distributing relief goods. Hundreds of people from the nearby inundated areas also thronged the venue.

"I have come here not to deliver any speech, but to see your condition and stand by you," Khaleda said in her brief address.

She said the alliance government and her party, the BNP, would always remain with the people.

Mentioning this year's flood as more devastating than the earlier ones, Khaleda urged the people to face the calamity with patience and courage.

She said her government took immediate measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people since the very beginning of the flood.

The prime minister assured the people of all possible rehabilitation measures, including health services.

Adequate doctors and medicines have been kept ready to tackle any post-flood outbreak of diseases, she said.

The poor people would also be provided with VGF (vulnerable group feeding) cards, she added.

Local MP Salauddin, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda, Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury, M Mosaddek Ali MP, among others, were with the prime minister during her visit to flood-affected areas.