Dhaka:The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has urged the ministry to update the committee on the country's current earthquake preparedness at its next meeting. This includes readiness in Dhaka and other cities throughout Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the committee emphasized the importance of implementing effective measures for the rapid dissemination of early warnings in disaster-prone areas. It also called for the presentation of district-wise lists of shelters and volunteers at the next meeting and for these lists to be shared with the respective local lawmakers.
The recommendations were made during the committee's inaugural meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, chaired by Munsi Rafiqul Alam, MP. The meeting underscored the need for integrity, dedication, and accountability among project officials, the proper distribution of relief and assistance, the maintenance of clean and usable shelters, and enhanced monitoring to ensure contractors do not use substandard materials in construction and development projects.
A presentation during the meeting outlined the activities of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and its associated departments and agencies, highlighting various initiatives undertaken over the past six months. In his opening remarks, the committee chairman expressed deep respect for Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and the martyrs of the Liberation War, offering prayers for their eternal peace.
The chairman also paid tribute to the students and citizens who lost their lives in the July 2024 movement and extended sympathy to those injured. The meeting was attended by committee members, including Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister M Iqbal Hossain, and others, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Parliament Secretariat.