Bangladesh: Observance of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2014
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction observed across the country. This year the day was celebrated on the theme, ‘Resilience is for Life (জীবনব্যাপী সক্ষমতা)’. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) in collaboration with Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP II) and other development partners have taken various programmes and events including publishing newspaper supplement, TV talk show, roundtable meeting, national art competition among school children, poster and festoon installation etc. to observe the day.
On the occasion Minister for Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) Mr. Mofozzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, MP said “Government adopted the Standing Orders on Disaster 2010, National Plan for Disaster Management 2010-2015, Cyclone Shelter Construction, Maintenance and Management Policy- 2011 and Disaster Management Act-2012. As many as 4,380 cyclone shelters have been constructed so far and 100 cyclone shelters will be built every year to save lives and property during the cyclones”. "We have been able to minimize losses of lives and property caused by different natural calamities due to different disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities taken by the present government, but we must move on further” – he added.
Environment Minister Mr. Anwar Hossain Manju said “Temperature of the planet is rising at an alarming rate due to excessive carbon emission, which is posing a threat to the environment, we have to take better disaster risk reduction measures”. He urged all development partners alongside government and non-government organizations to make Bangladesh a disaster resilient country.
Mr. Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and Relief; Mr. Mesbah ul Alam, Secretary, MoDMR and Mr. Mohammad Abdul Wazed, DG, Department of Disaster Management also spoke at the occasion.