Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya yesterday urged the coastal people to remain prepared following the daily weather bulletin to face any tidal surge, reports UNB.
He came up with the call while addressing the inauguration of the National Disaster Preparedness Day 2017 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
The minister said this year, storms, cyclones and tidal surges have started hitting the country early, asking the authorities concerned to remain alert in the disaster-prone districts to cope with the consequences.
He said the height of 60,000 houses in 19 flood-prone districts will be increased aiming to make those disaster-resilient.
“Initially, we’ll increase height of poor and destitute households which have old-aged or challenged members or have no financial ability to repair their houses,” Maya said.
He said this initiative was taken as a pre-preparedness of sustainable development to build a flood-resilient nation.
Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Shah Kamal and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu and Director General of the Department of Disaster Management Reaz Ahmed, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The National Disaster Preparedness Day 2017 was observed on Friday.