Speakers call for taking steps for earthquake preparedness
Terming Bangladesh vulnerable to earthquake, speakers called for ensuring proper preparedness to combat the natural disaster.
Earthquake preparedness (both institutional and community level) techniques could save lives and minimise the intense of destruction, whereas the failure to ensure preparedness might trigger huge loss of lives and properties, they said.
Ensuring the regulations of the National Building Code in time of constructing new buildings is also a must to minimise the loss. It would not only reduce the chance of building collapse but also save people's lives, they added.
Speakers came up with these recommendations during a roundtable meeting at the office of the East West Media Group Limited in the capital on Wednesday, said a media statement.
Brac and the Bengali daily Kalerkantho jointly organised the event.
Dr Enamur Rahman, state minister for disaster management and relief, attended the event as the chief guest while Imdadul Haque Milon, editor of Kalerkantho, moderated it.
Md Mohsin, secretary to disaster management and relief ministry; Brigadier General Mohammad Sajjad Hussain, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence; Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, pro-vice chancellor of the University of Dhaka; Shamsuddin Ahmed, director general of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD); Sajedul Hasan, director of humanitarian programme of Brac; Selim Reza, chief executive of Dhaka North City Corporation, among others, spoke at the event.
Dr Enamur Rahman, in his speech, said the government is going to sign an agreement with JICA for combating earthquake. In this regard, the government would work on different issues, including constructing new building following the National Building Code.
As part of earthquake preparedness, the government is emphasising on purchasing modern equipment. The Prime Minister has also allocated a fund worth Tk2,300 crore to this respect.
Sajedul Hasan, in his address, called for imparting proper and continued training for volunteers who work under the disaster programme of the government.
If it is ensured, the volunteers would be able to play an important role in rescue operations during any disaster, he said.
Dr Maksud Kamal termed Sylhet and Chattogram as the riskiest areas in time of any earthquake in this geographical basin.
During the meeting, the discussants also placed some other recommendations, including raising mass awareness, purchasing modern equipment for facilitating post-disaster rescue operation, arranging proper training for volunteers, to fight an earthquake.