Sylhet Bureau :
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md. Sarwar Alam said that a comprehensive plan will be taken considering the earthquake risk of Sylhet city. A large-scale volunteer team will be formed in the city comprising students. The old volunteer team will be reorganized. The buildings that are on the list of risky buildings will have to be demolished.
He said these things as the chief guest at a seminar on Earthquake Risk and Our Preparedness in Sylhet organised by Bangladesh Environment Movement (BAPA) at a prestigious hotel in the city on Thursday morning.
The main article at the seminar was presented by Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
In the main article, Dr. Mushtaq said that Sylhet region is located in one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world. Historically, the Cachar earthquake of 1869, the Great Indian earthquake of 1897, etc. had a huge impact on the Sylhet region. An earthquake of magnitude 9 can damage more than half of the buildings in Sylhet. This can cause significant loss of life and economic losses. Studies have shown that the water, gas, electricity and telecommunication networks of Sylhet city are very vulnerable to earthquakes.
In the main article, he said that most of the buildings in Sylhet are low to medium-rise and many buildings are pre-built or without engineering designs. Structural irregularities and inadequate earthquake design are common weaknesses of buildings. Past building collapses in Bangladesh highlight the dire consequences of unplanned construction.
Chaired by Bapa Sylhet President Jamil Ahmed Chowdhury presided over and General Secretary Kasmir Reza conducted the seminar.
Chief Engineer of Sylhet City Corporation Ali Akbar addressed the seminar as a special guest.
More than a hundred people from different walks of life in Sylhet present the seminar.
The welcome speech was delivered by Lawyer Emadullah Shahidul Islam, Vice President of Bapa Sylhet.
Sylhet Agricultural University Professor Dr. Abul Kashem, Sylhet Agricultural University Faculty of Agricultural Technology Dean Muktarun Islam, Sylhet Press Club President Ikramul Kabir, Sylhet Press Club Former President and Bapa Sylhet Vice President Iqbal Siddiqui, Bapa Sylhet Vice President Principal Bhaskar Ranjan Das, Sylhet City Corporation Executive Engineer Md. Ruhul Alam Khan, Public Works Department Executive Engineer Md. Abu Zafar, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Associate Professor Subrata Das, Fire Service Sylhet Deputy Assistant Director Md. Qutub Uddin, Department of Environment Sylhet Deputy Director Banani Das, Information Officer of the Department of Information Akiqur Reza, Sylhet Voice Publisher Selina Chowdhury, Sunamganj Samity Sylhet Vice President Professor Delwar Hossain Babar and Former General Secretary Professor Sabbir Ahmed, Environment and Haor Development Organization General Secretary Piyush Purkayastha Titu and others also spoke the seminar.
