Speakers at a function here on Sunday stressed the need for disseminating knowledge on disaster management among the stakeholders and the vulnerable communities to save the lives and properties during the emergencies.
“The training on disaster management can undoubtedly help the disaster management committee at any level to provide the need base information
to the people of disaster prone areas and make them well equipped in handling disaster moments successfully”, they said.They made the comments while addressing an inaugural session of 3-day long foundation training for the members of disaster management committee to build up them as master trainers under a project entitled ‘Building a Disaster Resilient Bangladesh’ at SKS Foundation training room of Bharatkhali under Shaghata upazila.SKS Foundation and Islamic Relief Bangladesh jointly organised the function with the financial support of European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.Deputy Commissioner (DC) M Ehsan-E-Elahi attended the function and addressed it as the chief guest.The ceremony was also addressed, among others, by deputy secretary of the disaster management directorate Ataur Rahman, assistant director Netai Chandra Sarker, coordinator, field operation and environment sector of SKS Foundation Khandkar Jahid Sarwar, programme coordinator of Islamic Relief Bangladesh Abdullah- Al-Raihan and project manager Ashraful Alam.The speakers said Bangladesh had become one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world due to geographical location causing it had been experiencing extreme weather conditions and disastrous hazards including flood, river erosion, drought, cold wave, tornados, tidal surges and cyclones for few years last.Besides, Bangladesh also in the risk of newly added earthquake as it was situated in the seismic zone. High population density, unplanned urbanization, faulty construction of buildings has intensified the risk of causalities, they also said.
DC Ehsan-E-Elahi in his speech emphasized on conducting all sorts of awareness and training programmes on disaster management including disaster preparedness among the people of disaster prone areas in the district to a great extent in a bid to reduce the loss of lives and properties.Project manager Ashraful Alam said the trainees were being imparted training on different disaster issues including community base disaster risk assessment and reduction, disaster management structure and main streaming in disaster risk reduction. A total of 25 persons including the members of district and upazila management committee, union parishad chairmen and members and NGO representatives are taking part in the training. -BSS, Gaibandha
