Disaster management
The present
government
has taken various measures for
facing natural
disasters but
much more
needs be done
It is encouraging to note that the government will implement a number of projects with Chinese assistance to improve disaster management capacity and enhance social and public awareness about disaster prevention and reduction in Bangladesh. According to a report in this newspaper on Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and China during Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to Bangladesh last month stated that both sides will implement projects like constructing emergency operation centre, conducting training programmes on disaster prevention and management for government officials, technicians and community people, formulating a plan for emergency shelters, constructing pilot project on storehouse of disaster relief materials and pilot project of emergency shelters.
Due to its geographic location, Bangladesh experiences frequent natural disasters. Apart from natural disasters, man-made disasters are also taking their tolls in the country. The apocalyptic cyclone and tidal surge that hit Bhola district in the erstwhile East Pakistan on November 12, 1970 killed at least five lakh people. Besides, losses in terms of property were colossal. The harrowing cyclone of 1970 was followed by several other cyclones in the country and the people living in the coastal areas bore the brunt of the same.
Since the emergence of Bangladesh successive governments have taken up adequate measures to minimize loss of lives and properties due to natural calamities in the coastal areas. Due to proper weather forecasting, publicity, public awareness, adequate preparedness, evacuation and rescue operations casualty due to natural calamities has been minimized substantially. A number of cyclone shelters-cum-schools have been constructed in various coastal areas of the country so that people can take shelter in those. More cyclone shelters with stronger foundations should be set up in the coastal areas to address the needs more promptly.
Almost every year flash flood inundates vast areas of the country, damaging dwelling houses and standing crops. This occurs mainly due to absence of repair of flood control embankments. Repair and reconstruction of these embankments should be taken up on an emergency basis. Measures should also be taken to check intrusion of saline water that is playing havoc with coastal forestry. Indiscriminate felling of trees, particularly those in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is also inviting disaster. The present government has taken various measures for facing natural disasters but much more should be done. Creation of awareness can help a lot in this regard. Disaster preparedness should be included in school curriculums.
