Bangladesh is currently a role model for development worldwide, yet it remains the most vulnerable country globally.
Without knowledge of disaster management and risk reduction, any kind of development is not sustainable.
Speakers shared these insights on Wednesday at a learning session marking the completion of the Strengthening Urban Public-Private Programming for Earthquake Resilience (SUPER) project consortium at a hotel in Dhaka.
They emphasized that the SUPER project is vital for sustainable development and security.
ActionAid Bangladesh, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), United Purpose and World Vision Bangladesh have been collaborating on the SUPER project since June 1, 2020, which will run till September 30, 2023.
The aim of this project is to foster private sector involvement and leadership in disaster preparedness, focusing on earthquakes and related hazards.
To achieve this, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) provided funding for this project.
As the chief guest at the seminar, Director General of the Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Mizanur Rahman said in his speech that no development would be sustainable if there is no knowledge about disaster management and risk reduction.
“We all have to be prepared for any disaster. As with progress comes risk, any development activity should be carried out with utmost security,” he said.
SM Golam Faruk Alamgir, senior vice president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), said: “To overcome the unexpected disaster risk, we need to implement comprehensive risk reduction strategies including preparedness, mitigation and recovery measures through the collaboration of various government, NGOs and private sector stakeholders in compliance with the UNDRR Sendai Framework 2015-2030. Only then it is possible to build a Smart Bangladesh.”
Speakers said that under the SUPER project, the first-ever Private Sector Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) in Bangladesh and South Asia was established.
A webpage was launched this year to provide various emergency information and services, they said.
PEOC has also developed an online database of volunteers and disaster incidences, speakers said.
The database will be published on the PEOC webpage and linked with the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) to complement their resources.
Speakers also said that since its establishment, the PEOC has recorded 158 different incident reports related to fires, earthquakes, floods, and cyclones.
PEOC trained 204 private sector volunteers at the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) training complex and also trained 104 private sector individuals on PEOC’s “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Guideline for Private Sector Emergency Response Team (PERT)”.
PEOC also conducted simulation exercises and mock drills at different locations in Dhaka. A total of 1,640 companies have been listed in the PEOC company database.
As a special guest, United Purpose Country Director Sriramappa Gonchikara and officials of ActionAid Bangladesh, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), United Purpose and World Vision Bangladesh were presented.
