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£5 will feed a family of four
31/ 8/2004
Thirty-three-year-old Abdul Malik from Oldham is worried about
his uncle and cousins who have been left homeless in Bangladesh
after devastating floods destroyed their house.
Abdul's uncle along with his aunt and their six children were
stranded on a boat for three weeks until they found shelter in a
local bazaar.
Like many Bangladeshis in the north west, Abdul has been sending
money to relatives in the flood stricken country to help them get
their lives back to normal.
The floods have left millions homeless, without food and many
children ill from infected water.
Odham's Bangladeshi-born Mayor, Councillor Abdul Jabbar, has
launched an appeal to help the flood victims.
Mr Malik said : "My uncle is devastated. His whole house has been
swept away. All their belongings have gone and he has no money to
rebuild another home.
"They had to leave their village in Singraoli in Sylhet and lived
in a crowded boat until they found shelter in a bazaar. The water
is now receding and they will be returning to the village
soon.
"Hopefully the money I send will help get them back on their feet.
In the meantime I can only hope and pray that everything will be
fine."
Councillor Jabbar, together with representatives from the council,
the Bangladesh community and the Assistant High Commissioner of
Bangladesh, Mizanur Rahman launched the appeal at Oldham Civic
Centre.
Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated and poorest countries
in the world, is experiencing its worst monsoon since floods
devastated the country in 1998.
Oldham has 11,000 Bangladeshis many of whom are extremely worried
about relatives caught in the disaster.
Said Councillor Jabbar: "It is vital that we try and raise as much
as we can to help those whose lives have been destroyed by the
monsoon rain and flood waters. A donation of £5 will feed a family
of four for a week and a donation of £100 will help people rebuild
their homes.
"Millions of people are homeless and there are forecasts of more
monsoon rains to come.
"I urge people in Oldham to make donations with the Co-Op bank by
using the donation box set up inside the Oldham-branch in the
Spindles Shopping centre or using the account details
provided."
The funds should be made to OMBC Mayors Bangladesh Appeal, sort
code is 08-92-33 and account number is 5012561853.All proceeds will
go to British charities based in Bangladesh.
Left, Abdul Malik (left), Bangladeshi High Commissioner Mizanur
Rahman and Mayor Abdul Jabbar
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