DHAKA, May 7, 2019 (BSS) – Ministers and concerned senior officials today
proposed construction of more cyclone shelters for the southern coastlines,
reinforced embankments and improved ICT communication systems as they joined
a post-Fani review meeting at the PMO.
“It is essential to build more ‘Mujib Killas’ in the country to protect
livestock alongside saving the people during natural calamities,” Liberation
war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque told the meeting.
He said the structures of the existing primary schools, high schools and
mosques should be reinforced further so that they could be used as safe
cyclone centres.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahaman said
his ministry initiated measures to repair 550 ‘Mujib Killas’ to protect the
livestock during disasters.
He said his ministry estimated that 2,500 more cyclone shelters were needed
in the coastlines while their existing number was over 4,000, officials
concerned said this could require around Taka 10 crore.
Rahman proposed introduction of a ‘disaster insurance’ to meet the
immediate needs of the affected people soon after disasters like cyclones.
Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar
said the proposed Bangabandhu Satellite-2 could be launched as a weather
satellite to get updated information about the weather.
He said Bangladesh can develop alternative communication system at district
and upazila-levels using Bangabandhu Satellite during any disaster when the
traditional communication system may not work.
The Minister said Bangabandhu Satellite can also be used in providing
healthcare services to disaster affected people.
Prime Minister’s principal secretary Nojibur Rahman moderated the meeting
which recommended allocation of adequate fund in the quickest possible time
to set up new cyclone shelters, repairing and strengthening the existing
cyclone centres and embankments.
The meeting proposed that project implementation and monitoring committees
should be formed with partnership of local people particularly to oversee the
proper expenditure of funds, bypassing the existing time consuming tender
procedure as the monsoon was knocking at the door.
Sate Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque said some points of the total
5,665-kilometer dams in the coastal areas were affected by cyclonic storm
Fani.
The damaged dams needed to be repaired quickly by raising their heights and
expanding their lengths which would cost an estimated amount of Taka 263
crore.
Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shameem said eight
teams of Awami League alongside the government are working for rehabilitation
following the recent cyclone.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and
Relief Ministry Captain (retd) AB Tajul Islam, State Minster for LGRD and Cooperatives Shawpan Bhattacharya and Principal Coordinator of SDG Affairs at the PMO Abul Kalam Azad also spoke at the meeting.
At the outset of the meeting, one minute silence was observed to express
shock and sorrow at the loss of lives due to cyclone Fani, the death of
renowned singer Subir Nandi and Additional Inspector General of Police
Rowshan Ara.
In the meeting, a power-point presentation was made focusing the country’s
preparation for the future disasters.