Proper planning, awareness a must to reduce disaster risks: Razzaque
Food Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque hands over the keys of equipment for search and rescue operation for earthquake and other natural disasters to Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed at a ceremony in Chittagong yesterday.Photo: STAR
Food and Disaster Manage-ment Minister Abdur Razzaque in the port city on Wednesday stressed the need for proper planning and its implementation, skilled manpower and awareness among common people to fight disasters and reduce risks.
“Geographically, Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country and the government is now putting stress on ensuring the inter-cooperation between the concerned agencies to identify responsibilities during the pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster periods,” he said.
The minister was addressing the handover ceremony of 'Equipment for search and rescue operations during earthquake and other disasters' as the chief guest at Army Embarkation Unit in Fakirhat area.
Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed as the special guest received the equipment from the minister at the programme with Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman in the chair.
Razzaque said, “A total of 600 volunteers are being trained up in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet City Corporation areas for post-disaster search and rescue operations under the earthquake component assistance of Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme,” he added.
He hoped that they would collect excavator, wheel dozer, forklift, mobile light unit, generator and 90-metre high hydraulic track ladder with some other equipment to accelerate the rescue operations.
General Moeen in his speech highlighted the role of Bangladesh Army in fighting disasters in the country.
Disaster Management Bureau Director General Farhad Uddin also spoke the ceremony, while Brig Gen Abu Naim Md Shahidullah received the key of a crane on behalf of the fire service and civil defence.
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