ZCZC
BSS-11
WORKSHOP-DISASTER
Ensuring early preparedness to reduce risks of natural disasters
GAIBANDHA, Oct 23, 2018 (BSS) – Speakers at a function here underscored
the need for ensuring early preparedness, awareness and knowledge to the
people of disaster prone areas to reduce risks of natural calamities.
“Due to geographical location Gaibandha has become one of the most
vulnerable districts in the country and lives and livelihoods of the people
of disaster prone areas are under threat owing to flood, river erosion, cold
wave and cyclones”, they said.
They made the observations while addressing a day long training workshop on
disaster management affairs for the members of district disaster management
committee at the conference room of District Collectorate Building on
Tuesday.
Department of Disaster Management (DDM) under the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief arranged the workshop at the management of district
administration.
Additional secretary of the ministry Shamima Haque addressed the function
as the chief guest and project director of DDM M Yousuf Ali was present as
special guest while deputy commissioner (DC) Sebastin Rema presided over the
function.
Executive engineer of LGED Abdur Rahim Shaikh, executive engineer of RHD M.
Asaduzzaman, sub divisional engineer of BWDB Mahbubul Alam, district relief
and rehabilitation officer AKM Idris Ali and district correspondent of the
BSS Sarker M. Shahiduzzaman addressed the workshop, among others.
The speakers said the flood has become one of the regular phenomenons among
the natural calamities as it visits every year creating untold sufferings to
all the river basin and char people of the district.
Apart from it, erosion by the rivers of Brahmaputra and Testa is one of the
major calamities and threats to the people living on the bank of the rivers
making them more worried about their homesteads and arable land all the year
round, they also said.
If the awareness activities and the early preparedness measures are taken
timely, the losses of the lives and the properties of the disaster affected
areas of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas here would be
undoubtedly reduced, they added.
Additional secretary Shamima Haque said Bangladesh would be turned into a
disaster tolerant country anyhow and in view of this, disaster management
programmes had been taken to reduce extent of damage as well as strengthen
people’s resilience capacity to face any disasters.
Project director Yousuf Ali said it is not possible to stop flood and other
natural calamities but it is possible to contain the losses of lives and
assets in tolerable level easily if the stakeholders of the society stand
beside the affected people with positive attitude.
DC Sebastin Rema emphasized for expediting disaster preparedness to the
people of disaster prone areas during any emergencies without major losses in
future through coordinated collaboration of GOs and NGOs.
BSS/CORR/FI/ 1608 hrs