DHAKA, Aug 1, 2018 (BSS) – Local Government, Rural Development and
Cooperatives Minister Mosharraf Hossain Khandker today urged public
representatives to stand by the country’s people during natural disasters.
“Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country. The country’s development
activities are halted due to natural disasters. That’s why public
preventatives should stand by the people during any natural or manmade
disaster,” he said while addressing the inaugural session of a daylong
workshop at Red Crescent Borak Tower in the capital.
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) organised the orientation workshop
for chairmen of 64 district councils, four city corporation mayors and
chairmen of Red Crescent Society’s district and city units aiming to inform
them about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, an official release said.
Chaired by BRCS chairman Hafiz Ahmed Mazumdar, the inaugural session was
addressed, among others, by BRCS treasurer Tauhidur Rahman, International
Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) Bangladesh chief Ikhtiar Ahsanur,
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society’s Bangladesh
chief Surendra Kumer Rezmi and BRCS secretary general Firoze Salahuddin.
The LGRD Minister urged the BRCS to be sincere about the infrastructural
development of the respective units of the Red Crescent in announcement of
development budgets for the city corporations and district councils.
He also asked the organisation to involve general people in conducting
humanitarian activities in the country.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced
‘Cyclone Preparedness Programme’ (CPP) on July 1, 1993 to deal with natural
disasters and cut disaster risks, Mosharraf said.
He said about 55,000 volunteers trained up under the programme have been
working to save the lives of about two crore coastal people in 13 districts.