Dhaka: Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Adviser Faruk E Azam today said despite being one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Bangladesh has made significant progress in disaster preparedness and response.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser highlighted that Bangladesh frequently faces multiple challenges including floods, cyclones, earthquakes, fires, and health-related disasters. Over the past few decades, the country has achieved remarkable progress in tackling these natural calamities. He was speaking at a seminar titled "Assessment of Disaster Management Capacity," organized by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at the CIRDAP Auditorium.
Highlighting the growing public awareness and infrastructure development related to disaster management, the adviser stated that Bangladesh's capacity to handle cyclones and floods has earned global recognition. He noted that over 76,000 trained volunteers are currently active at the community level to support disaster response efforts. "Nature operates on its own terms. While we cannot prevent natural disasters, we can certainly reduce losses through preparedness and awareness," he added.
He emphasized the importance of creating public awareness, constructing cyclone- and flood-resilient infrastructures, building high embankments, providing adequate shelter centers, and establishing green belts to minimize the impact of natural disasters. Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md. Mostafizur Rahman presided over the function and additional secretary K.M. Abdul Wahab presented the keynote paper.
Disaster Management Department DG Md. Rezwanur Rahman, and additional secretaries Md. Humayun Kabir, Shashanka Shekhar Bhowmik, and ABM Shafiqul Haider were among the speakers at the event.