President urges disaster preparedness

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday stressed the need for advance preparedness and proper urban planning to tackle disasters, warning that a major earthquake could leave Dhaka in ruins because of unplanned urbanisation.

“Alongside natural disasters, there are also manmade disasters. The greatest concern today is that if an earthquake occurs here, Dhaka city will be completely reduced to rubble,” he said.

He made the remarks at a programme marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday morning.

The President urged the authorities to give greater attention to urban management, particularly the construction of houses and buildings, maintaining the natural flow of rivers and preventing river pollution.

Referring to recent earthquakes in Kathmandu and Tehran, he said unplanned urban development and vulnerable buildings could significantly increase casualties during disasters.

Bangladesh has long faced natural disasters, including floods, cyclones, tidal surges, river erosion, landslides, droughts, lightning strikes and earthquakes, he said.

Recalling the devastating cyclone and tidal surge of 1970, which caused massive loss of life, Mirza Fakhrul highlighted the severe consequences of inadequate disaster preparedness.

He also expressed concern over the effects of global warming, noting that although Bangladesh contributes very little to global emissions, it remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Coastal communities, in particular, face multiple risks, he said.

The President said Bangladesh had made significant progress in disaster management since independence, with early warning systems, shelters, volunteer networks and public awareness helping to reduce casualties. The country’s capacity for preparedness, rescue, relief and rehabilitation had also improved.

“Bangladesh needs to move from early warning to early action,” he said, stressing the need to prepare before disasters strike and strengthen the capacity to recover quickly afterwards.

Mirza Fakhrul also called for legislation to address issues facing disaster management volunteers, urging the relevant minister to take steps towards formulating a law.

He emphasised stronger measures to prevent environmental pollution, conserve wetlands and natural water bodies, promote risk-informed urban planning and build disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Referring to canal excavation initiatives launched by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to control floods and manage water flows, he urged the authorities to implement natural conservation programmes sincerely.

The government has also undertaken a programme to plant around 250 million trees, he said, expressing hope that the initiative would contribute significantly to disaster management.

The President praised the preparedness of people in disaster-prone areas, particularly communities in the haor regions of Sylhet, and commended the Meteorological Department for issuing early warnings.

He urged people to respond promptly to government warnings, protect their neighbours and take part in local disaster management activities, including efforts to conserve rivers and canals.

“Resilience Starts at Home. Let us move forward together and build a disaster-resilient Bangladesh,”