Bangladesh ramps up earthquake preparedness with national task force and volunteer recruitment drive

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over a high-level meeting at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday to finalize a comprehensive national strategy for earthquake preparedness and emergency response. The session focused on strengthening the government’s operational capacity to mitigate the impact of potential seismic events and enhancing post-disaster service delivery.

A central component of the government’s plan involves the mobilization of a 100,000-strong volunteer force dedicated to providing emergency services in Dhaka and its surrounding regions. According to Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin, a database for 70,000 volunteers has already been established, with efforts underway to recruit and train the remaining 30,000 individuals. These volunteers will receive specialized training to ensure rapid and effective intervention following a disaster.

To oversee these initiatives, the government has decided to establish a dedicated special cell for earthquake preparedness within the Prime Minister’s Office. This body will be tasked with forming a national task force and ensuring seamless coordination between various public and private institutions. The meeting also addressed the development of humanitarian staging areas—specialized logistics hubs and warehouses designed to facilitate the rapid distribution of relief supplies and emergency aid in the event of a catastrophe.

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In addition to structural planning, officials discussed a nationwide campaign to bolster public awareness regarding seismic safety protocols. Prime Minister Rahman underscored the necessity of robust logistical planning, emphasizing the procurement of essential rescue equipment and the maintenance of an integrated response system.

The meeting was attended by senior government officials, including Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Professor M A Muhit, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A B M Abdus Sattar, and Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman Khan.