The government should also ensure that the building code is strictly followed during any construction work and that the vulnerable structures are demolished and re-built, they said.

Actionaid Bangladesh and Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) in association with the European Commission organised the workshop titled 'Disaster preparedness in the educational and medical institutions and the role of media' at the National Press Club in the city.

"If a major earthquake takes place, all the multi-storey buildings in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet will collapse, as most of them are not constructed in line with the building code," said CJA President Hasan Shahriar.

Most of the buildings being used as garment factories are not meant for use as factories, he said, urging the government to check such practice and take action against the rule violators.

He also suggested including the disaster preparedness issue in the school textbooks.

CJA Bangladesh President Farid Hossain said several earthquakes have already jolted Chittagong and Maheshkhali, giving a hint of future threats, but "We are not prepared for it."

A survey should be conducted to see whether the building code is being followed in the cities, he said, adding: "We are really vulnerable and not prepared and this became evident when a fire broke out at the BSEC Bhaban."

The print and electronic media should also highlight the issue as part of a campaign to raise awareness about disaster preparedness, he said.

Presentation a keynote paper, Farhana Ferdous, consultant (policy advocacy), Disaster Preparedness Activities of European Commission Humanitarian Office, said preparedness in the schools and hospitals is more important, as more people are concentrated there.

Every school should regularly conduct mock exercise on disaster management and have fire extinguishers and whistling system, and should train the teachers and students on first aid, she said.

"The authorities should check vulnerability of all such institutions, rectify the comparatively less vulnerable ones and gradually demolish the more risky school and hospital buildings," Farhana added.

She also said medical students should be given orientation on mass casualty management. Such lessons could also be included in the syllabus of the medical colleges.

Hospital-based mass casualty management committee could be formed so that it could make coordinated efforts during any disaster, the consultant suggested.

Prothom Alo Joint Editor Abdul Qaiyum suggested strengthening regional information system so that they can help each other in preparing for and managing disasters.

The speakers also said that the authorities should construct more shelter centres, maintain them regularly and develop the signalling system.

Cateliyne Mittendorpp, project manager of DIPECHO, Wahida Bashar Ahmed of Actionaid Bangladesh, disaster management expert Faiz Shah also spoke at the workshop presided over by Dilrose Hossain, head of Identity and Resource Mobilisation of ActionAid Bangladesh.

Farid Hossain and Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, secretary general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, moderated two sessions of the workshop.