President, PM for more awareness to reduce disaster risks

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for creating more awareness and active participation of all levels of people alongside the government and non-government organizations in measures to reduce disaster risks.

In a message, on the eve of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the President said Bangladesh is one of the most disaster- prone countries due to its geographical location, over-population and impacts of climate change.

The country is often facing different kinds of natural disasters, including flood, drought, cyclone, landslide and riverbank erosion, the President said, adding alongside such natural calamities, it is also facing various human-induced disasters due to rapid urbanization.

"We are also not free from tremor risk as Bangladesh is situated in seismic zone," he said.

"The theme of this year's International Day for Disaster Reduction, 'Live to Tell' is very significant," he said, adding, "It's not possible to stop natural calamities but it's possible to keep the losses of lives and assets at a tolerable level by creating mass awareness about taking disaster preparedness."

In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken a number of effective measures to minimize the loss of life and property caused by different natural calamities.

The Premier said, "I am happy to learn that the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world."

"Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had started disaster reduction activities in 1972. He established Cyclone Preparedness Programmes (CPP) in 1973 for the coastal people of the country," she added.

The theme of this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is time-befitting, she said and added that it is possible to make the disaster management more dynamic by integrating modern technology and indigenous knowledge.

The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh is now a role model in combating natural disasters in the world. She urged the people to be more aware to reduce the loss of life and property caused by earthquake and lightning and to follow the building code while establishing buildings. The government has taken initiatives to prepare an adequate number of volunteers in every district for post-disaster period, she said.

They wished all the programmes of the day a success.

Source: BSS