Dhaka – The country has lost about Tk 5,000 crore (US0.6 billion) annually due to various natural disasters including flood, saiys a paper prepared by the disaster management and relief ministry.
According to the paper, 60 per cent of the country had flooded in 1988, while two third in 1998—but no single person died in 2013, 2015 and 2016 despite heavy flood in the country.
The government is constructing 156 shelters in river erosion and flood prone areas, the source said.
According to the document, the government has planned to construct 13,000 bridges and culverts in the next two years.
There will be no bamboo bridges in the country as per Prime Minister instruction, the document said.
The government has also planned to raise 60,000 houses in 19 flood prone districts.
Against this backdrop—the country will observe National Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Day on March 10 (Friday).
According to the ministry, a total of 55,260 volunteers in 13 costal districts under 40 upazilas are working advance forecast regarding cyclones.
The government has already constructed 117 multipurpose cyclone shelters in coastal areas and 220 more shelters will be constructed soon.
Besides, the government has already been handed over rescue ships to coast guard and Bangladesh Navy for rescuing stranded people in sea during cyclones, the ministry sources said.
According to ministry sources, the government has procured rescue equipments of Tk 250 crore which distributed to fire service and other organizations for rescue operation after earthquake or other disasters.
Besides, 30,000 volunteers have been trained out of 62,000 for urban areas. The government has been training 15 lakh scouts with the assistance of five lakh youth red crescent volunteers, the ministry sources said. – Staff Reporter
