State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M. Iqbal Hossain has stated that the government is prioritizing earthquake preparedness and has implemented various initiatives to enhance search and rescue operations and emergency communication systems. These measures aim to strengthen the capacity of agencies involved in disaster response.
Comprehensive Preparedness Project
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief is executing a project called “Procurement of Equipment for Search and Rescue Operations and Emergency Communication during Earthquakes and Other Disasters.” This project involves acquiring internationally standard Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment, heavy rescue machinery, emergency communication systems, and specialized rescue tools to improve the capabilities of 10 agencies.
Volunteer Preparedness Initiative
In response to the Prime Minister’s directive, the government is preparing 100,000 volunteers for Dhaka city and its surrounding districts. So far, a database of 64,837 volunteers has been compiled, including 43,237 civilian volunteers and 21,600 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans
The state minister emphasized that the government is conducting regular drills, training programs, public awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives for search and rescue teams. Additionally, efforts are underway to identify and address unsafe high-rise buildings, remove encroachments, and ensure hospitals near high-risk areas are prepared. The government is also working on long-term preventive measures and has recently held a meeting with national experts to identify highly vulnerable areas along fault lines and implement priority-based precautionary measures.
