But despite having infrastructures, the country often fails to handle common natural disasters such as flood, they said.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Alumni Association organised the seminar on 'Disaster Management in Bangladesh' at the auditorium of Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (Biam) in the city.

Speaking as the chief guest, Minister for Food and Disaster Management Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf said the preparation of Bangladesh for cyclone and flood management is quite efficient, which is internationally recognised.

To tackle other natural disasters such as quake and arsenic contamination, the country needs help not only in terms of money but also in terms of expertise, he added.

Akio Arai, resident representative of Jica, said Jica's cooperation for disaster management in Bangladesh is based on four components -- reduction and prevention of damage from disaster, strengthening of disaster management system, emergency disaster relief and reconstruction.

With the assistance of the Japanese government, a total of 81 cyclone shelters have been constructed in the coastal areas of the country, he said.

Presenting a keynote paper, Dr Aslam Alam, deputy team leader of Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) of the government, explained different institutional structures at the national level for disaster management.

The government has started the process to establish a Disaster Management Information Centre (DMIC) with links to all districts headquarters, he said. Funded by the European Commission, the centre will have links to 50 percent of the upazilas at the initial stage.

The disaster management ministry has also a plan to establish an institute of disaster management for training and research purposes, he added.

Giasuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, executive director of the Centre for Environment and Geographic Information Services, recommended strengthening people's participation in disaster management and upgrading coastal embankments to provide greater safety.

Besides, he said, there must be a national master plan to check river erosion as it is one of the major causes of poverty.

Dr Abul Hossain, project director of Multi Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women of the Department of Women Affairs, and Md Ezhar Uddin, general secretary of Jica Alumni Association, also spoke. Md Azmal Chowdhury, acting president of Jica Alumni Association, presided over the seminar.