DHAKA, Oct 13, 2021 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today vowed to

continue the country's development spree whatever risks come, calling all to
act cautiously keeping in mind the dangers of disasters.

  "We always think the country is ours. So, whatever risks will come, the
development spree will surely be continued. --- We will surely step forward
towards the development facing everything. We have been working to pursue the
goal," she said.

   The prime minister said this while addressing a function marking 50 years
of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) and the International Day for
Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), from her official Ganabhaban residence here
through a video conferencing.

   She also opened CPP's four units -- Druto Saradan Unit (quick response
unit), Pani Theke Uddar Kora Unit (rescue from water unit), Oti Joar
Monitoring O Saradan Unit (high-tide monitoring and response unit) and Khelay
Khelay Durjog Prostoti Unit (disaster preparedness with fun).

   She hoped that these units will help CPP accelerate disaster management
work.

   The prime minister said Bangladesh is becoming as an ideal country to
counter the disasters in the world due to the government's tireless efforts
following footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman.

   She called upon all concerned to work accordingly to uphold the global
dignity of Bangladesh as a disaster resilient country.

   State Minister for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Md.
Enamur Rahman and its Secretary Md. Mohsin spoke on the occasion from Osmani
Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

   PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the function from the
Ganabhaban while local public representatives including lawmakers, government
officials and others got connected to it from the Muktijoddha Math, Cox's
Bazar end.

   The prime minister earlier unveiled a book titled "Durjog Sahonshil
Bangladesh Binirmane Sheikh Hasina (Sheikh Hasina in building disaster
resilient Bangladesh).

On behalf of the premier, the state minister for the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief distributed "lifetime honorary medal" to three best
organizers and six volunteers, including three women, for their outstanding
contribution to the field of disaster risk management.

   The lifetime awardees are: organizers Saidur Rahman, AKM Hasan Al Rashid,
and AJM Golam Rabbani and volunteers, Shova Rani Das, Ratna Rani Dey, Hawa
Begum, Fazlul Karim, Abdul Hasim Siraj Kazi, and Md Hanif.

   Bangladesh is observing the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
with the local theme "Work together for disaster risk reduction" in line with
the global theme for the 2021 edition, "International cooperation for
developing countries to reduce disaster risk and disaster losses."

  The premier later witnessed a cultural programme that included a brief
drama on disaster preparedness, staged at the Cox's Bazar end.

  A video documentary on 50 years of CPP: Bangabandhu to Sheikh Hasina was
also screened at the function.

Highlighting various initiatives taken time to time by her government
to reduce the risk of disasters, the Prime Minister said they have
been doing their part while the people would have to do their part to
this end.

“People of our country need to be careful and take some measures
accordingly.  While constructing houses, offices, and business establishments
you have to keep in mind that disasters such as fire, storm
and flood can strike any time. So, everyone should follow the building code while
constructing those to stay away from the risks,” she said.

She added: “We are doing whatever necessary (in this regard) from our part.”

The premier also called upon all to remain alert about the man-made
disasters referring to BNP’s arson attack (in 2014 to thwart the
national election).

Mentioning the remarks of then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in
parliament that not as much people died that was supposed to die in
1991 cyclone, the Premier said that they never want to hear the words
again in life, urging all concerned to be careful and make others
aware of the risk of disasters.

Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League said that they first
stood beside the people after the 1991 cyclone.

The Prime Minister again assured the people to stay beside them during
their need, saying, “Awami League has always remained beside the
people. Its leaders always stand beside the people no matter who comes
or not. You people are seeing the leaders and activists of Awami
League Swachchhesebak League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, and Krishok
League to come forward to help the masses during the Coronavirus
period by risking their lives. We do not see anyone else coming forward.”

The Prime Minister mentioned the various measures taken by her
government such as giving cash incentive to the people and businessmen
as well as, relief materials to the masses, providing treatment facilities to the
people, purchasing vaccines to minimise the hardship of the people and
keeping the wheels of the economy turning.

She said her government has started the mass vaccination campaign with
a target to bring 80 percent of the total population under vaccination
for which they are purchasing huge quantity of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Despite the fact, the Prime Minister called upon all to follow the
health protocols accordingly as anyone can become infected with coronavirus even
after taking the vaccine.

 

The Prime Minister came up with the opinion that the inclusion of 
women in the CPP activities has made the organization more effective
and said, “We will always take the measures required to free the
people from the risks of disasters.”

Her government has taken all the initiatives to ensure security
against disasters and basic needs of the people following the
footprints of the Father of the Nation and working with various plans
to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
established the CPP immediately after the Liberation War mainly to
protect both lives and livelihood from natural disasters like cyclone; As
Bangabandhu witnessed the sufferings of the masses in the 1970 cyclone that
claimed lives of 10 lakh people due to unpreparedness of then
East Pakistan government.

Following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, the Awami League
government had taken various measures after coming to power in 1996
for which it had successfully handled the country’s most prolonged
1998 flooding which lasted for two and a half months and 70 percent of
the land across the country went under water.

As part of the disaster preparedness, the Prime Minister said her government plans 
to dredge some 510 km rivers by 2022 alongside implementing various
projects in building water reservoirs, excavation of 4886km canals,
construction and repairing of flood-control dams.

She added that her government has so far constructed 230 flood
shelters and 320 cyclone shelters across the country while
construction of more 423 flood shelters and 230 cyclone shelters is
underway to ensure proper management of disaster risk reduction.

Besides, necessary laws including Disaster Management Act, 2012 and
Strategic Action Plan 2015 have also been enacted and are being
implemented, she said, adding that capability of the concerned
institutions have also been strengthened to a significant extent to
face the disasters.