Seismic Retrofitting of Buildings
Fund constraints obstacle
Says minister
Due to fund shortages and lack of modern technology and coordination among government bodies, the government was still lagging behind in retrofitting important structures to withstand heavy earthquakes, said food and disaster management minister yesterday.
“The buildings, including the Prime Minister's Office, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Secretariat, are under severe threat as a heavy earthquake in the city may cause a huge loss of lives and property,” said the minister, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.
Razzaque was addressing a workshop, “Appropriate Techniques for Seismic Retrofitting of Buildings in Bangladesh” organised by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Public Works Department (PWD) in a city hotel.
Retrofitting is a technique applied by constructing additional pillars made of concrete or steel to support and provide extra protection to buildings, said seismic experts.
Though most of the country's buildings may collapse during a heavy earthquake, the government was not capable enough to take due steps due to lack of awareness among people and coordination among government bodies, he said.
Razzaque emphasised people's involvement in the disaster risk reduction procedures. “We will be able to overcome risks from the disaster to a large extent if house owners stop ignoring Bangladesh National Building Code.”
Razzaque also expressed the need to form several task forces, comprising local government division, PWD and experts from home and abroad, to strengthen buildings with seismic retrofitting technology.
Housing and Public Works Secretary Dr Khondaker Showkat Hossain presided over the programme where State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shiro Sadoshima and Jica Chief Representative Dr Takao Toda also spoke.
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