The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A two-day SAARC workshop on 'Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness' began in the city Monday to provide effective guidelines for reducing the disaster vulnerabilities of communities in the South Asian regions. Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury formally inaugurated the regional workshop, organized by SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management and the Disaster Management Bureau (DMB), at Hotel Sheraton.

Food and Disaster Management secretary Dr Mohammad Ayub Miah presided over the inaugural function. Additional secretary and convenor of the workshop organizing committee Md Abdul Bari Khan, SDMC director of India PG Dhar Chakraborty and DMB director general KH Masud Siddiqui spoke on the occasion.

Representatives from eight SAARC member countries-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka-are participating in the workshop.

Replying to the reporters' query after the inaugural session of the workshop, Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said there is no bar for the political leaders to participate in the relief works under the state of emergency now in force in the country.

He urged the people of all strata, including political leaders and student organizations, to come forward with positive attitude and extend their helping hand to the cyclone-affected people.

Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said:

"Disaster risk reduction and community preparedness are essential preconditions of sustainable development and also an important element for the achievement of the development goals." Food and Disaster Manager secretary Dr Ayub Miah said the South Asian countries are highly susceptible to natural hazards of almost all types including flood, cyclone, tidal surge, drought, tornado, river bank erosion and earthquake.

He emphasized on increased information exchange, improved early warning capacities, technology transfer and technical cooperation among the SAARC member countries to make the people aware about the impending disasters to reduce loss of lives and property in the region.