‘Govt’s top priority is rapid disaster evacuation’

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said the government’s top priority during disasters is to swiftly evacuate people living in remote areas to safe locations.

He said rescue operations were carried out swiftly during the recent floods, while people staying in shelters were provided with dry and cooked food.

He added that houses damaged or destroyed by the floods had been rebuilt for affected families, many of whom have now returned home as the situation has improved. Seeds have also been distributed among affected farmers through the Ministry of Agriculture.

The minister said damaged rural infrastructure would be reconstructed under the Food for Work (KABIKHA) programme, while roads under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) would also be repaired as soon as possible.

Dulu made the remarks on Tuesday at a ceremony in Bandar, Narayanganj, where speedboats were handed over for emergency disaster response and rescue operations in 12 coastal districts. The boats were provided with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Thanking the Japanese government and JICA for their support in disaster management, Dulu said the twin-engine speedboats were capable of conducting rescue operations even when a No. 4 maritime danger signal was in force.

“These speedboats will be used to conduct rapid rescue operations in remote areas during disasters,” he said.

“We have more projects in the pipeline. Gradually, these boats will be provided to another 25 districts,” the minister added.

Highlighting the importance of swift rescue operations during disasters, Dulu said, “Rescue operations are extremely important during floods.

When tidal surges or cyclones strike, the government’s top priority is to evacuate people living in remote areas to safe locations as quickly as possible.”

Describing the handover of the speedboats as a milestone in disaster management, he said the process of providing rescue vessels to other districts was also under way and the boats would be handed over soon.

He said steps had also been taken to bring the haor regions under the programme.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh H.E. Saida Shinichi, Disaster Management and Relief State Minister Engineer M. Iqbal Hossain, Narayanganj-5 lawmaker Advocate Abul Kalam, Ministry Secretary Md Mohammad Saiful Islam, Director General of the Department of Disaster Management Md Rejwanur Rahman, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office Nurjahan Khanam and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Takahashi Junko were among those present at the event.