State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibbur Rahman said that DNCC's initiative to sprinkle water on roads is inefficient amid the severe heat wave. Spraying water through a water cannon is not enough; it has to be done in a more scientific way.
Muhib made the remarks during his speech as chief guest at the Shadow Parliament debate competition, which was organised by Debate for Democracy (DFD) at FDC in Dhaka on Saturday.
DFD Chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the event.
The state minister said, "The recent heat wave has been considered a disaster. Disbursing Tk 10,000 to Tk 25,000 for deaths and casualties in any two cities is not enough; there are plans to increase it. This time, a list is being made of the people who died of heatstroke.
"Those who have become unemployed due to extreme heat are being brought under the social safety net. There is no plan to appoint heat officers from the Ministry of Disaster and Relief."
He explained, "Using unnecessary glass without complying with building codes is one of the causes of overheating in buildings. Many educated people also make houses as they like without following the law and turning their own houses into death traps.
"Therefore, stricter laws must be made to comply with the law," he added.
Kiron, during his speech, said, "The government does not have an accurate account of the people who died of heat stroke last year. Also, there is no information about providing them with financial assistance."
"At least Tk 3,00,000 should be paid to the families of the destitute people who died due to calamity in present reality.
"Every year, extreme temperatures cost $2.7 billion in lost productivity. By 2030, it is expected that the clothing industry alone will lose $6 billion due to extreme heat. Workers in various industries including the garment sector are at risk of losing their jobs," he added.
"We hope that if there are any more heatwaves this year, the government will assess the damage and will stand by those affected by it."
"A Chief Heat Officer was appointed under DNCC in May of last year to control the heat. Questions have been raised that during the past one year, what initiative has the current heat officer been able to take to reduce the heat of the city? What are its results?"
"It is not possible for Chief Heat Officer Bushra Afrin alone to control the heat. This requires the participation of people from all walks of life along with state patronage."
Debaters from Dhaka College defeated the debaters from Govt Titumir College in the shadow parliament titled "Unplanned urbanisation is responsible for unbearable temperature rise".
At the end of the competition, trophies, crests, and certificates were awarded to the winning teams. Professor Abu Muhammad Raees, Journalist Iftekhar Mahmud, Journalist Falguni Rashid, Journalist Deepak Kumar Acharya, and Journalist Atiqur Rahman judged the competition.
