Invest in disaster preparedness

As we observed Disaster Preparedness Day, it would be well to remind ourselves that disaster is a part of our lives and preparing for it must be a constant and dynamic feature of our lives too. We are all stakeholders and as the director general of the Department of Disaster Management said recently, the private sector must supplement the public sector in its efforts to mitigate the effects.

Bangladesh has earned international reputation in tackling disaster and post situations, particularly natural calamities whose consequences cannot be predicted till after they hit us, although their imminence can be forecast with some degree of accuracy. But we can always reduce the aftereffects or recuperate from the disaster faster if we are prepared for that at all times. And we have displayed this several times in the recent past. What however is more difficult is the one that is always unpredictable till it occurs, like an earthquake. And that is what must occupy the minds of the planners.

Disaster readiness calls for appropriate preparation at all levels including training of not only volunteers or government agency staff, but also the people because much of the success in implementing the management programme would depend on how much the people are prepared in every respect—not only to overcome the consequences of natural disasters but also to reduce the risk of the manmade ones.

We are heartened to note the huge investment that the government has made in terms of equipment procurement. But along with that, intensive awareness programmes should be launched. And this as a subject that should also be included in school curriculum.