State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman has said Bangladesh will be able to build earthquake-resistant buildings by 2071.
The state minister was speaking at an event organized by Debate for Democracy on Thursday.
He said the government needs to update the Bangladesh National Building Code to combat post-earthquake catastrophes.
Dhaka TribuneThe government will play a leading role in updating, modernizing and implementing the policy, he said.
The state minister said the authorities have to implement the building code during construction.
Regarding delays and corruption in the approval of building designs, the state minister said: “The initiative of online application and approval has been taken.”
Enamur Rahman said government buildings, especially secretariat buildings, are not earthquake-resistant.
The roads, metro rails, flyovers and expressways that the government is building along with gas, and electricity connection lines must also be earthquake-resistant, he added.
Some 72,000 buildings in Dhaka city are vulnerable and there are fears that millions of people may die in the capital if a major earthquake occurs, the state minister said.
At the event, Debate for Democracy made 10 suggestions to deal with risks from earthquakes.
Among the points raised were identifying vulnerable public and private buildings, hospitals and educational and religious institutions, and making them earthquake-resistant, planning for a road map under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to implement the building code, creating facilities for training manpower and setting up fire stations and laboratories.
Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran urged the government to take necessary initiatives and create awareness among the masses.