The National Disaster Preparedness Day 2023 will be observed in Dhaka and elsewhere across the country on Friday amid other awareness programmes.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will organise various programmes with the theme 'Smart Bangladesher Protaya, Durjog Prastuti Sabsomoy'.
On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, with a call for increasing the use of modern technologies in reducing disaster risks and disaster-related casualties.
The President, in his message, said Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country due mainly to its geographical location. It is possible to minimize the loss of life and property of the people by reducing the risks of disasters if steps are taken timely.
He said the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken various steps after the Independence to face disasters and following his path, the present government has been implementing various sustainable programmes as part of its disaster preparedness.
As part of disaster preparedness, the government is constructing bridges-culverts, cyclone shelters, relief-cum-disaster management information centres, Mujib Kella and amassing different equipment to be used in conducting post-disaster rescue operations, he added.
The government has been taking and implementing different programmes for building a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh by 2041, he said, adding that smart initiatives would have been taken to face the disasters.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu had established Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) to reduce disaster risks and protect the life and property of the people from cyclones.
The greatest Bangalee of the all-time also had constructed 172 'Killas' (embankments/fortresses) that were named 'Mijib Kella' by general people, she added.
She said the incumbent government has been able to bring down disaster-related death to a single digit by using modern technology and timely preparation. 'Mijib Killas' have been expanded and modernized to make those safe shelters for people and livestock, she added.
To give preemptive disaster warning and regular weather messages, the government has introduced 1090 (toll-free) Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, which has developed the capacity to reduce loss of life and property of the people from cyclones, floods, lightening and cold wave, she said, adding that Bangladesh is now a role model globally in disaster management.
The Prime Minister said the government has formulated the 'Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100' attaching priority to reducing losses of disasters and climate change impacts.
"We will be able to build a disaster-tolerant, hungry and poverty-free developed Bangladesh by 2041 through achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030," she added.
