Build quake proof structures

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the country's engineers to make sure that quake-resistant infrastructures and buildings are built in the country following the building code.

The prime minister was addressing the inaugural session of the International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development in Osmani Memorial Auditorium of the capital. IDEB and CPSC, Manila organised the three-day conference.

Hasina urged the engineers, including the diploma ones, to maintain the standard of their works since they are responsible for implementing development works at the field level as nearly 85 percent of development works are implemented through them.

"The responsibility of ensuring the quality of works lies at the field level. You'll have to give special attention so that the proper standard of work is ensured," she said.

Mentioning the recent earthquake in Nepal, she said, "I came to know that cracks have developed in a number of buildings in our country, too."

Hasina said every year nearly 0.1 million hectares of arable land go out of farming due to construction of houses, roads and other establishments in an unplanned way. "We'll have to take immediate measures to prevent unplanned urbanisation as well as give special attention to save farmland."

She urged private entrepreneurs to come forward to complement the government efforts in turning the population into human resources through imparting them science and technology-based education. However, it is not possible to carry out such a task with government efforts alone, she added.

The prime minister said her government was the first to introduce SSC (vocational) course in 1,800 non-government schools. Second shift has been introduced in 51 government polytechnic institutes. Besides, a process is on to launch 25 polytechnic institutions, including three for women.

"The government has decided to expand vocational education through establishing one technical school in each upazila," she added.

The prime minister also noted that measures have been taken to produce skilled manpower through thirty-seven technical training centres and imparting training to the prospective migrant workers. "Thirty more technical training centres are awaiting launch."

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was the special guest at the inaugural session of the conference. Chairman of the Steering Committee of the conference IDEB President AKMA Hamid chaired the function, while CPSC Director General Dr Mohammad Nain Yaakub was the co-chair.