All-time preparedness to reduce disaster risks stressed

All-time early preparedness alongside creating awareness at community levels and efficient emergency response management systems could reduce losses of human lives and properties during natural disasters.

The observation came at a post-rally discussion jointly organised by the district administration at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room on Thursday to observe the International Day for Disaster Reduction-2022.

Earlier, Personnel of Rangpur Fire Service and Civil Defense Station, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society volunteers and scouts demonstrated mock drills on post-earthquake management and fire fighting on the Zila School ground in the presence of crowds.

Deputy Commissioner Md Asif Ahasan attended the post-rally discussion as the chief guest with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Golam Rabbani in the chair.

Superintendent of Police Md Ferdous Ali Chowdhury attended the event as a special guest.

Assistant Director of Rangpur Fire Service and Civil Defense Station Md Abdus Salam, Secretary of Rangpur unit of BDRCS Rawshanul Kaiser Sangram, NGO executives and civil society members spoke.

Abdus Salam discussed different types of natural disasters and statistics of damages caused by major disasters in the country and world in recent decades and forwarded suggestions to reduce disaster risks in both urban and rural areas.

“The present government has taken inclusive steps to reduce disaster risks through disseminating information and warnings and ensuring early preparedness, training and emergency response management systems,” he said.

The speakers expressed concern over frequent incidents of natural disasters like earthquakes, tornados, cyclones, tidal surges, droughts, floods and river and coastal erosion being caused as a result of adverse impacts of climate change.

The chief guest laid emphasis on innovating newer technologies and equipment alongside educating youths on early preparedness for launching comprehensive post-disaster managements at community levels to reduce losses of human lives.

“Bangladesh has achieved outstanding success in disaster management,” he said and called for disseminating information and knowledge among community people to have all-time early preparedness to reduce risks of natural disasters.