Sylhet MP lauded for serving constituency amid Covid-19 outbreak

There are six members of parliament (MP) in Sylhet district for the six constituencies there. But only one MP is actually in his constituency while the others are staying in Dhaka.

Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, MP from the Sylhet 3 constituency, has been participating in different social activities including food distribution in his area since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. He has also involved his party men to assist distressed people in various ways.

The Sylhet 3 constituency encompasses Fenchuganj, Balaganj and Dakshin Surma upazila. And Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury has won the constituency for the third consecutive term.

Alongside the government assistance, the MP has also distributed relief material from his personal initiative to people who are in crisis over the Covid-19 outbreak in his constituency.

Though many other MPs have also distributed relief, they were not physically present there. They distributed relief material thorough party leaders and activists.

But this parliament member reached his constituency before the announcement of the nationwide general holiday.

Local elites and civil society members are praising such an initiative from their parliament member.

"Why are the other MPs not in their constituencies? If one of them can stay in the constituency, why not the others? All of them were supposed to stay beside the people in this crisis," said Faruque Mahmud Chowdhury, Sylhet chapter president of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik.

The local representatives are now living at home when the people need their services the most, he added.

Local sources said that Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury started an awareness campaign immediately after the outbreak of Covid-19.

He has provided food to people in distress and his support is ongoing, added the sources.

Mintu Chowdhury, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Dakshin Surma upazila, said that the MP has been staying in the constituency after the crisis began.

"He always advises us, and monitors relief distribution activities," said the UNO.

"Our prime minister has ordered us to go and meet people and give them food, just as we did during electioneering. I am obeying the order of the premier," said Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, MP of Sylhet 3 constituency.

"If administration officials can work in the field level, why not us?"

All MPs should be with the people while maintaining physical distancing, he said.

The parliament member also said that he has provided food worth Tk40 lakh so far on top of the government relief material.