The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Strengthening local governments and involvement of local people in disaster management planning, and creating a disaster management fund are needed to cope with the disasters.

Speakers said this yesterday at a roundtable organised by the Bangladesh Awami League on ' Super Cyclone Sidr 2007: Environmental Stresses and Measures to be Taken' at the National Press Club.

The speakers urged for early weather forecast to take pre-disaster plans in the coastal areas, easy and soft loans for farmers, establish seed bank and introduction of crop insurance so that the farmers could not be harmed by natural disasters.

Awami League presidium member MA Mannan presided over the meeting moderated by Forest and Environment Secretary of AL Dr Hasan Mahmud.

Awami League presidium members Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, member of AL working committee Prof Abu Saeed, Agriculture Secretary of AL Dr Abdur Razzak, Labour Secretary Habibur Rahman and former army chief Gen (Retd) Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, Bir Bikram, among others spoke at the meeting.

The speakers urged the Government to adopt the new way of disaster management of awareness, preparation and risk reduction strategy rather than the old one of relief and rehabilitation work.

They also urged the government to build high-rise Kellas to save livestock and let the nature to restore forest ecology and stop commercial activities within the Sundarbans for several years.