The New Nation - Internet Edition

M. Mizanur Rahman

The geographic position of deltaic Bangladesh is flannel shaped. It is naturally cyclone prone zone. Every sensible person though knows this since the beginning from the unknown ages up to the modern times but no permanent disaster management plan has since been adopted to outdo its service against such known catastrophe. This sort of disaster, more or less, has been visiting this poor country almost every year. The impoverished people of Bangladesh are the prey of this formidable demon, as if there is no way to solve this problem. We are rather happy to see an excuse as saying that this is the scourge of God or global problem beset with the change of atmosphere. Man has no power to overcome such tremendous disastrous effects of natural calamity.

However a person of modern scientific advancement can hardly agree with this opinion. There is no sign of nature on earth that cannot be identified or scanned by the modern scientist whatever intricate that might be thought. As a matter of fact. we are not tapping our own resources from among our science researchers to explore such an important aspect of national interest where the question of life and death of our teeming millions of people arises time and again. Its economic growth has been diminishing and agriculture outputs reduced to negligible margin. Our foreign dependence is increasing beyond limit every time. We are yet to tap our vast resources. Our people unlike any other developed countries are apt to stand against every challenge of the adversity facing the nation. They need only the able and worthy leadership who can sacrifice his/her meritorious genius and labour selflessly for this poor nation to enrich it.

It is always observed that post-cyclone relief is always rushing to the scene of occurrence along with foreign assistance en-masse. But the nation lacks preparedness beforehand to face this calamity except some warning signals communicated to respective areas to wake up the people. This however never minimised the devastating effects of overwhelming speed of the cyclonic storm. Where is the nationwide Civil Defense preparedness? Anyone who is trained in Civil Defence knows the technique at least how to save him/herself along with his/her relatives. But ill luck to us if you make a nationwide survey you can hardly hear the name of Civil Defence and its activities among the people. Even in the last hair-raising effects of SIDR cyclone we never heard the name of it in any media that civil defense volunteers at work anywhere. Why? Should 'Civil Defence' remain inducted as dead-end there in Fire Brigade for namesake at poor people's exchequer? Where is its vast voluntary service in the wake of national crisis? Every person of the nation needs Civil Defence training to meet the emergency because it gives at least self-defense before any remedial service reach the scene of incidents.

During the period of last Tsunami that lashed the shores of the Indo-Pacific regions, very luckily Bangladesh was saved. We also heard of the movement of tectonic plates beneath the oceans of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic zones.

We also heard of its disastrous effects in earthquake phenomena. Our shore is adjacent to that and as such we cannot make ourselves any exception. Our only means of safety is early preparedness to face the onslaught of the tremendous disastrous force of nature. Should we be caught unaware of it? Or should we remain idle having heard the signals from our weather bureau or seismic center and pray the salvation to Almighty Allah with two hands chained together? We have also been experiencing mild earthquake jolts often form our Bay of Bengal shores. In case of sudden serious outbreak of earthquake what would we do? The people of all walks of life will be affected.

Here also the technique of training in Civil Defence activates the civil defence trained people. Hence prevention is better than care. We cannot always boost on foreign assistance in all respect. Our own strength of mind and heart with courage and fortitude is immense. Let us take care of us ourselves minimising any alien help as a proud nation.