With the theme ‘Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future’, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was observed on Friday amid various programmes in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief have taken different programmes in observance of the day in a befitting manner. The ministry arranged a colourful event at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest with secretary of the ministry Md Kamrul Hasan in the chair. Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry Captain (retd) AB Tajul Islam, MP, attended the event as special guest.
The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and different other government and non-government bodies observed the day amid various programmes.
Bangladesh is vulnerable to extreme events of disaster such as floods, cyclones, riverbank erosion, salinity intrusion, seasonal droughts and other catastrophes. Earthquake is also a major concern due to seismic zones in the northern and eastern regions of the country. The flood inundates two-thirds of Bangladesh once every three to five years.
However, Bangladesh has been playing a crucial role in strengthening indigenous knowledge-based disaster response and providing support for building the resilience of different groups of people
Mahbuba Nasreen, Director and Professor of the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies (IDMVS) at Dhaka University; said that government and non-governmental organisations, development agencies, academia, and other stakeholders are unitedly contributing to building a resilient country.
She also said that Bangladesh has been identified as a role model in facing the challenges of disasters, but intersectional communities need equitable attention in disaster risk reduction. Health crises, the absence of healthy practices, social behaviours, norms, gender inequalities, and other inequalities embedded in various sectors need to be scrutinised through an intersectional lens, she added.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was observed in other parts of the country. Marking the day, a colourful rally was bought out from the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Bogura which paraded main roads in the district town.
