Urban Community Volunteer Database draft finalised

The draft for 'National Urban Community Volunteer Database-2020' was finalised on Sunday.

It was finalised at a workshop arranged by Save the Children in Bangladesh at the BIAM Foundation Auditorium, said a press release.

Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Mohsin in his speech as chief guest said that through this database, it will be possible to store and use updated information of all urban community volunteers in the country. 

"Although the responsibility of creating the Database is basically ours, Save the Children has cooperated in this regard," he added. 

Bandana Risal, Deputy Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh in his speech said, "The role of urban volunteers in disaster management is immense and to this end, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of the Government of Bangladesh has prepared 'Urban Volunteer Management Guidelines 2019'. Hopefully, the database will be considered an important step in institutionalizing urban volunteers and will play a role in consolidating national disaster management."

Disaster Management Department Director General Md Atiqul Haque presided over the function. He said, "I sincerely thank Save the Children for this initiative. Hopefully, based on the feedback of the participants, the National Urban Community Volunteer Database 2020 will be handed over soon and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will take over the overall responsibility of the database."

On the basis of Office Order No. 51.00.0000.321.38.020.17-305 of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, a three-member committee including Additional Secretaries Satyabrata Saha, Shamima Haque and Md Mohsin was formed for the purpose of preparing the database.  The drafting was completed with the technical assistance of Save the Children in Bangladesh.

Save the Children and its partner organisations are currently involved with a total of 1,200 urban community volunteers and are working to train new volunteers.