Post-disaster city plan stressed
Speakers at a seminar yesterday stressed the need of a disaster risk management master plan to bring down the adverse effects of disasters in the densely populated Dhaka city.
Being a fundamental requirement, the plan requires a link between the disaster risk management and the city's physical and urban development strategies, said Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha Chairman Nurul Huda.
The seminar titled “Rationale, process and elements of a disaster risk management master plan for Dhaka” was jointly organised by Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and Bangladesh Earthquake Society (BES) at IEB seminar room in the city.
Huda, also the IEB president, said disaster management is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform where various organisational groups are involved.
The plan needs to arrange a comprehensive chain of action for authority and stakeholders and cover clear strategies and priorities of risk reduction, response and recovery, he said.
He said the plan should also include all the requirements and basic needs of risk mitigation with proper implementation tools and regulations.
Chairing the seminar, BES President Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said progress in preparing to deal with post-earthquake situation was slow.
Though the government already purchased some equipment and trained volunteers to face such situations, the plan is urgently needed, he said.
Earthquake and Megacities Initiative, USA Chairman Dr Fouad Bendimerad presented a keynote paper at the seminar.
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