He said this while distributing relief materials among the victims of river erosion at Tongibari upazila here yesterday.

Urging the people to face the natural disasters with courage the minister said the present government and BNP leaders and workers will always remain beside the affected people.

"Don't lose your courage in danger," he said adding the government is making its efforts to check the erosion . BNP will take effective measures to check the erosion by the Padma if the party comes to power again, he assured.

Shamsul Islam said the government has made law to provide land from newly developed 'char' for those who had lost their paternal land in the river erosion. In this regard, he urged the people to preserve the records of their paternal lands.

The minister said the present government has developed the education, health and communications sectors remarkably over the last five years.

Chairman of Meerkadim Pourasabha Mohammad Hossain Renu, local UP chairmen Kamruzzaman Bachchu and Sheikh Selim, also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the minister visited some puja mandaps at Abdullahpur, Jelepara, Abdullahpur Akhra, Nagarkasra, Mirapara and Ghop Para.