Disaster management adviser Faruk E. Azam spoke today at a workshop on disaster preparedness held in the capital. Photo: BSS

 
DHAKA, May 21, 2025 (BSS) – Disaster management adviser Faruk E Azam today said due to Bangladesh’s geological and geographic location exposed it to earthquake risks but planned urbanization could reduce the damages.

Speaking at a workshop on disaster preparedness he said Bangladesh is located at the confluence of three major tectonic plates heightening the country’s exposure to earthquake risks, prompting the government to take initiatives like comprehensive disaster management programme, national resilience program and urban resilience project.

Azam, a recipient of Bir Protik gallantry award as a 1971 Liberation War veteran, said population density particularly in urban areas demand planned urbanization alongside the damage mitigation and rescue preparedness measures.

“Our disaster management preparedness and flood management capacity (however) earned international acclamation,” he said.

The adviser said that the government has planned to develop a “quick response team” or QRT through coordinated engagement of different ministries and allied agencies in post-earthquake search, rescue and medical services to operate beyond the Standing Order for Disaster (SOD) to maximize damage control and life saving efforts.

He said the government took various initiatives including comprehensive disaster management programme, national resilience programme and urban resilience project to reduce earthquake damage.

Azam said relevant persons have to work on a realistic action plan to deal any type of disaster to reduce loss of lives and property while training, exercises and drill programmes supported by UNDP by now were playing a role in building urban search and rescue capacity to deal with earthquakes.

Disaster Management Department and UN development agency UNDP jointly organised the workshop at BIAM Foundation Multipurpose Hall where tremor expert of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Dr Rakib Ahsan presented a presentation on earthquake and urban resilience.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Bangladesh Sonali Dayaratne, secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief ministry M Mostafizur Rahman and Director of Disaster Management Department Rezwanur Rahman were present.