Disaster Management and Relief Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said the government plans to construct at least 5,200 cyclone centres along disaster-prone coastal areas with an aim to save the lives of locals.
He said, “The present government has already constructed 100 new cyclone centres which has increased the number of cyclone centres to 3,100.”
The minister made the announcement on Saturday while addressing a press conference on International Day for Disaster Reduction held at the PID conference room.
The International Day for Disaster Reduction, 2013 will be observed Sunday across the globe including Bangladesh.
The ministry of disaster management has been planning to arrange different programmes to observe the day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the programmes at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
The minister said, “The government wants to create mass-awareness amongst the people for helping disabled persons and children, who are considered the worst victims of any disaster.”
“The government also plans to train 62,000 volunteers in the country to help people during disasters. 50,000 volunteers have already been trained under the ‘Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP)’ with the financial support of International Red Crescent Society (ICRC). The training programme is ongoing,” he added.
Disaster Management Secretary Mejbaul Alam, Joint Secretary Munir Chowdhury and Department of Disaster Management’s Director General Mohammad Abdul Wajed also attended the press conference.