Quake rescue devices

HC order awaits implementation

More than five years after the High Court ruled that the government procure necessary rescue equipment, the country is still largely unprepared for a search and rescue operation in the event of an earthquake. In July 2009, the High Court, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), had directed the government to procure necessary rescue equipment as recommended by an expert committee in this regard. The expert committee finalised a list of search and rescue equipment in the light of HC directives but the same is yet to be procured for lack of fund allocation.

The HRPB had filed the PIL writ petition in the wake of an alarming report by UNDP-funded Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme which said, “Some 72,000 buildings may collapse in Dhaka city in an earthquake of 7 to 8 intensity (extent of jolt), as had happened in 1897.”
The HRPB had also submitted before the HC a list of 22 specific items badly needed for search and rescue operations. These include six 170-foot turntable ladders, six 88-foot snorkels (tubes used for breathing), 20 high hydraulic-power breakdown vans, eight emergency tenders with lighting units, six chemical tenders for putting out fire, six bulldozers, six crush tenders, two foam tenders (to put out fire from oil) and six 11,000-litre water tenders.
Later, the HRPB filed a contempt petition with the HC, seeking the court’s direction against the government for not complying with its order. On April 28, in response to the contempt of court petition, a HC bench comprising Justice Qazi Reza-ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher M. Saifur Rahman asked the government to submit a report on what steps it has taken for procuring necessary equipment for search and rescue after any earthquake.
The court asked four officials, including the Home Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief Secretary and Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence to submit a report before it by May 12 last year.
Talking to The Independent, President of HRPB, Advocate Manzill Murshid, expressed disappointment over the fact that the HC order for procurement of rescue equipment is yet to be implemented.

 

Quake rescue devices

HC order awaits implementation

More than five years after the High Court ruled that the government procure necessary rescue equipment, the country is still largely unprepared for a search and rescue operation in the event of an earthquake. In July 2009, the High Court, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), had directed the government to procure necessary rescue equipment as recommended by an expert committee in this regard. The expert committee finalised a list of search and rescue equipment in the light of HC directives but the same is yet to be procured for lack of fund allocation. The HRPB had filed the PIL writ petition in the wake of an alarming report by UNDP-funded Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme which said, Some 72,000 buildings may collapse in Dhaka city in an earthquake of 7 to 8 intensity (extent of jolt), as had happened in 1897. The HRPB had also submitted before the HC a list of 22 specific items badly needed for search and rescue operations. These include six 170-foot turntable ladders, six 88-foot snorkels (tubes used for breathing), 20 high hydraulic-power breakdown vans, eight emergency tenders with lighting units, six chemical tenders for putting out fire, six bulldozers, six crush tenders, two foam tenders (to put out fire from oil) and six 11,000-litre water tenders. Later, the HRPB filed a contempt petition with the HC, seeking the courts direction against the government for not complying with its order. On April 28, in response to the contempt of court petition, a HC bench comprising Justice Qazi Reza-ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher M. Saifur Rahman asked the government to submit a report on what steps it has taken for procuring necessary equipment for search and rescue after any earthquake. The court asked four officials, including the Home Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief Secretary and Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence to submit a report before it by May 12 last year. Talking to The Independent, President of HRPB, Advocate Manzill Murshid, expressed disappointment over the fact that the HC order for procurement of rescue equipment is yet to be implemented.