Private sector emergency operation centre launched at DCCI

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has launched the country’s first private sector emergency operation centre (PEOC) to fight against urban disasters.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman launched the centre in a city hotel on Tuesday. The centre will operate under the project title “Strengthening Urban Public-Private Programming for Earthquake Resilience Project (SUPER Project)”.

SUPER is a consortium project implemented by DCCI, ActionAid, World Vision, and United Purpose Bangladesh and funded by European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation (ECHO). DCCI is also establishing a private sector emergency response team (PERT) to support the operation of the PEOC.

SUPER Project started in 2020 and was supposed to end on May 31, 2022.

DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said, “The project has been already extended for one year till June, 2023. Moreover, the activities of PEOC will continue even after the project ends.”

“The emergency response activities are technology-based. We will use artificial intelligence to identify the source of hazard or disaster. Volunteers of the response team will immediately reach the spot without waiting for any other agencies. Civil defense and other law enforcement agencies are included in the initiative and policies will be harmonized soon,” he added.

“This is the first time an initiative like this has been developed in South Asia. The centre and emergency response team will work in Dhaka City Corporations areas and mainly focus on fire incidents and earthquakes,” said the DCCI president. State Minister Md Enamur Rahman said, “Bangladesh is fighting against various kinds of disasters like floods, lightning, cyclone, salinity, and others.”

“Government will provide all the support to these initiatives. The PEOC will represent the private sector involvement in disaster management in the global arena,” he added.