The government has almost completed a project to strengthen its capacity to respond to emergencies and reinforce systems to reduce the vulnerability of future building construction to disasters in Dhaka and Sylhet.
The Urban Resilience Project (URP) was taken up in 2013 with the World Bank’s financial assistance to build the capacity to fight disasters and emergencies like earthquakes, fires and waterlogging.
The government targeted to enhance the capacity of its institutions to adopt modern technologies and train skilled human resources for making necessary arrangements during emergencies under the initiative.
It also aimed to strengthen the capabilities of government establishments and reduce the risk of vulnerable buildings and installations in both Dhaka and Sylhet cities through the empowerment of existing frameworks or systems.
The implementing agencies of the project included Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Disaster Management Bureau, Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Planning, Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and Sylhet City Corporation.
The URP authorities on Wednesday arranged a validation workshop on the draft report of the strategic end of the project evaluation at a hotel in the capital. Planning Division Senior Secretary Satyajit Karmaker attended the programme as the chief guest.
Dr Nurun Nahar, additional secretary and the project director of URP, Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit, presented the keynote.
She highlighted the works implemented under the project, including the establishment of the Emergency Response and Communication Centre; National Disaster Management Research and Training Institute and Training Centres; setting up Emergency Operations Centres; DRM offices; Zonal Control Rooms and Command and Control Rooms; construction of warehouses; procurement and installation of Emergency Communication Technology equipment.
Under the project, the authorities also procured Search and Rescue equipment including drones, water rescue vehicles, breathing apparatuses, turntable ladders and personal protective equipment.
The development works also included renovation and equipping of DDM buildings (training rooms, multipurpose halls, libraries, auditoriums); provision of Training, Exercise, and Drill services for national and local organisations; and assistance in emergency risk management, planning, policy and decision-making.
In addition, plans have been made for responsive land use based on seismic risk sensitivity through the adoption of Hazard Micro-zonation Maps and Risk Sensitive Land Use Maps, which are coordinated with Detailed Area Plans, said Dr Nahar.
Furthermore, efforts have been made to plan for future risk reduction, enforce and oversee compliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code 2020, and undertake activities related to overall urban development strategies, she added.
Speaking at the programme as the special guest, Abul Kashem Md Mohiuddin, the secretary of the planning ministry’s Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, said, that although the URP will close this month from the World Bank Bangladesh end, the Bangladesh government will continue and utilise the results achieved from this project.
As most of the targeted activities have been completed during this period, the government will continue upscaling and mainstreaming the initiatives, he said.
Speaking as the chief guest, Planning Division Senior Secretary Satyajit Karmaker said, “The government wants to work on the second phase of this project. In the upcoming phase, the Fire Service will be further strengthened.
"The role of the Fire Service is unparalleled in disasters like earthquakes and fires. Also, Rajuk will have to work in a larger area.”
