The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 will be observed in the country today like elsewhere in the world.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is being observed since 1989, after a call by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for a day to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction. In 2009, the UNGA officially designated 13 October as the date to commemorate the day.
The 2022 edition focuses on “Early warning and early action for all”.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has chalked out different programmes in observance of the day in a befitting manner.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually inaugurate the day’s programmes at 11 am today at Osmani Memorial auditorium from her official Ganabhaban residence.
State minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman will chair the event.
President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages marking the day.
In his message, President Md Abdul Hamid said early warning and early action play the main role in reducing losses of disaster and for this reason, the government has included an early warning and early action strategy in its policies and plans.
He said immediately after the independence Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched a forestation programme first across the country’s coastal belts to reduce the disaster risks. Construction cyclone shelters and ‘matir kella’ was launched at that time to save people’s life and property, he added.
The present government has taken various programmes to reduce the risks of disaster, he said, adding that the government introduced SAARC Monsoon Initiative Programme in 2012 and launched Bangabandhu Satellite to give people forecasts about disasters.
Recently, the government has taken programmes in 15 districts to save people’s life from lightning strikes, he added.
He said Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council has developed drought observation and early warning systems to save crops.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said disaster-related losses can be minimized to a satisfactory level if early steps are taken based on an early warning system.
The government’s various steps including investment in disaster management, improving the early warning system, construction of new cyclone shelters, disaster preparedness, use of modern equipment and development of rescue operations have helped bring down the losses of life and property to a single-digit, she said, adding that as a result, Bangladesh has now become a role model in disaster management in the world.
In observance of the day state minister for disaster management and relief said at a press conference that the government is working relentlessly to save people’s life and property from disasters.
The government has constructed disaster-tolerant 94,338 houses across the country, he said, adding that construction of 44, 909 more houses is underway.
He said the government is implementing a project at a cost of Tk 2,300 crore to face losses of the earthquake and alongside setting up National Emergency Operation Centre to conduct search, rescue and rehabilitation after a big earthquake.
He said all, including public representatives, administration, social workers and media personnel, should work together in addressing disasters in the country.
