GAIBANDHA, Oct 14, 2019 (BSS) – The International Day for Disaster Risk
Reduction-2019 was observed in the district on Sunday as elsewhere in the
country and the globe with a call to remain always ready to tackle disasters
during the emergencies.
This year’s theme of the day was “Reduce Disaster Damage to Critical
Infrastructure and Disruption of Basic Services”.
Marking the day, district administration chalked out the elaborate
programmes in cooperation with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) project of
BDRCS and Swiss Red Cross, brac, SKS Foundation, and GUK.
In the morning around 10 am, a grand rally led by deputy commissioner (DC)
was brought out from Independence Square and ended at the campus of Gaibandha
Govt. Girls’ High School after parading the main roads of the town.
Later, a discussion was held on the significance of the day at the school
campus with acting head teacher M. Jahurul Haque in the chair.
Moderated by Sadar upazila project implementation officer Anisur Rahman,
the function was also addressed, among others, by district relief and
rehabilitation officer AKM Idris Ali, assistant commissioner SM Foyez Uddin,
coordinator of DRM project Amal Kumar Pramanik, project manager of GUK Tania
Islam and journalist Sarker M. Shahiduzzaman.
The speakers in their speeches said due to geographical location,
Bangladesh has become one of the most disaster prone countries in the world
and it experiences extreme weather conditions and disastrous hazards
including flooding, river erosion, drought, cold wave, tornados, tidal surges
and cyclones every year.
Bangladesh is also in the risk of newly added earthquake as it’s situated
in the seismic zone. High population density, unplanned urbanization and
faulty construction of buildings have intensified the risk of causalities,
they also said.
The programme was followed by a mock drill on rescue operation during the
fire incidents and post-earthquake on the school ground at the management of
the personnel of Fire Service and Civil Defense office.
Apart from it, DC Abdul Matin formally inaugurated 225 disaster tolerant
houses constructed by Ministry of the Disaster Management and Relief for the
homeless of the district through unveiling a plaque at his conference room at
noon as the chief guest marking the day.
Speaking at the function DC Abdul Matin in his speeches emphasized on
expediting disaster preparedness and creating awareness among the people of
disaster prone areas and making them well equipped in handling disaster
moments to reduce the loss of lives and properties during any natural
calamities in future.
The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been implementing a
number of effective measures to reduce risks of different natural calamities
since 2009 and Bangladesh is now a role model in combating natural disasters,
the DC also said.
A large number of people including district and upazila level officials,
students, teachers, activists of different NGOs and media men took part in
the programmes spontaneously.