Better Safe Than Sorry

THAT earthquakes pose a danger to Bangladesh is often overlooked. It does not receive the kind of attention that disasters like cyclones and floods do. At a recently held seminar of seismologists in the capital city concern has been expressed over the hazards of earthquake. Although tremors have been a regular feature in our country we have not upgraded our preparedness accordingly. That Bangladesh is in a seismically active geological belt is now beyond any doubt. And after Chittagong has been rocked a few times, within hours of each other, a proper monitoring network has to be put in place.

We need seismological observatories in districts like Dhaka, Sylhet and Rangpur. Alongside, we must give Fire Brigade and Civil Defence departments all possible logistics so that they can promptly respond to SOS calls and do the needful on a short notice. Precautions must be taken to make our buildings, including the high-rises, tremor-resistant. Moreover, planning restrictions need to be imposed to maintain proper width of roads for access to tall buildings in and around vulnerable areas. We have to go for an all-out campaign to build awareness among the planners and builders about the perils of earthquakes and the masses about some post-earthquake measures.