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After the floods of late 1980s and the killer
cyclone of 1991, the concept of acting only after the occurrence of
disaster has been replaced by the concept of total disaster
management involving prevention / mitigation, preparedness,
response, recovery and development.
The GoB has, therefore, total commitment towards reduction of human,
economic and environmental costs of disasters by enhancing overall
disaster management capacity. Efforts have been continuing for
optimum coordination and best utilization of resources along-with
ensuring community involvement so that they are aware of what they
can do for protecting their lives and properties against disasters.
The plan and conduct of disaster management by GoB involve
preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation as key notes for
building up self-reliance of the community people. For proper
handling of disasters, GoB maintains it's efforts in their different
directions.
The existing system for disaster management in the country covers
activities at normal times for important disaster management aspects
like mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Government as part of disaster management have been trying to
develop it's scientific networking in respect of disaster
forecasting and early warning. With grant of Japan Government,
replacement of radar at Agargaon, Dhaka , establishment of a new
radar at Rangpur and a satellite ground receiving station at SWC,
Dhaka have been completed last year to enhance the capability of SWC
of Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Substantial progress in the
expansion of flood forecasting and warning services (FAP-10) in the
country has been made with the help of Danish Hydraulic Institute.
Disaster Mitigation
Gov. gives equal importance to both structural as well as
non-structural mitigation measures.
Structural Mitigation
As part of structural mitigation measures, GoB has so far
constructed 2,023 cyclone shelters and 200 flood shelters.
About 3,931 km. long coastal embankment to protect coastal land from
inundation by tidal waves and storm-surges, and drainage channels of
total length 4,774 km. have so far been constructed.
Non-Structural Mitigation
For non-structural mitigation GoB has given emphasis on
Legislation & Policy
Training and Public Awareness
Disaster Management Legislation has been drafted with the purpose of
providing for the formulation of disaster management policy relating
to preparedness and emergency measures, and rehabilitation program
to deal with disaster.
As part of training and public awareness nearly 50000 people related
to disaster have been trained through 500
courses/workshops/seminars.
As part of public awareness activities, booklets containing
information about cyclone, flood etc. and calendar, posters
depicting disaster points have been regularly printed and
distributed up to the grass-root levels.
To raise awareness among the students on various hazards/disaster
management, a chapter on disaster management has been included in
the educational curricula from classes V to XII.
GoB has decided to make compulsory a session of at least 02 hours on
disaster management in the training curricula of all types of
Training Institutes to train officials and non officials.
Emergency Response
For the purpose of emergency information exchange and relief
management, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been
established at the MoFd as operational unit.
EOC gets activated with the first information of the disaster
emergency situation and works on the overall direction from IMDMCC/MoFD
for handling all aspects of emergency situation.
The emergency and relief management system during disasters
recognizes the key role of the cabinet Secretary in the
Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination and in supervising the district
administration and ensures the services of the Armed Forces as well
as NGOs working in the country. Play Armed Forces (Navy, Air and
Infantry) a vital role in the rescue and relief operation during and
after of any Disaster.
Under the system, Directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation (DRR)
within the administrative control of the MoFD acts during emergency
situation and operates relief activities for distribution to the
remote field levels.
A small dynamic professional unit known as DMB under the
administrative control of MoFD performs specialist functions at the
time of emergency to help EOC by extending technical support
services through MIS/GIS for information exchange.
In addition, there exists Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) which
plays very useful role during cyclone.
Under the Project titled “Rights based planning and monitoring:
disaster preparedness funded by UNICEF, DMB organized different
types of trainings/seminars/workshops on Disaster Management for
disaster prone areas in the country .
Disaster Management Mechanism
GoB has formulated a set of mechanisms to maintain proper
co-ordination amongst the concerned Ministries, organizations and
line agencies and also to ensure their effective functioning during
emergency.
For the mechanisms to be operative, a guidebook named `Standing
Orders on Disaster' has been published as a basic tool.
The Standing Orders outline the activities of each Ministry, major
agencies / Departments so as to handle emergency situations
efficiently .
In the efforts of making the mechanisms clear and comprehensive,
National Policy on Disaster Management has been designed and under
process for final approval.
The initial operational direction and co-ordination for any disaster
situation come from the highest level of institutional arrangement
(I.e.; NDMC) through second highest authority IMDMCC for overall
disaster management in the country.
Committees from National to Grassroots levels (i.e. DDMC, UzDMC and
UDMC) under the framework of disaster management guidebook i.e.
Standing Orders on Disaster work on Disaster Management.
Urban Disaster Management in Bangladesh
Significant urban problems are mounting at an increasing rate in
Bangladesh . Rapid urbanization together with cumulative threats
from increased exposures to urban flooding aggravated by drainage
congestion, urban and industrial fires, air-pollution from the
emission of exhaust gas from variety of automobiles, unplanned high
rising buildings without adequate safety against fire, earthquake,
gas and chemical hazards. The high rise residential buildings are
being built in any available open spaces, ditches, swamps and canals
without relevant safety measures. The urban hazards except the
earthquake such as fire, technological hazards, drainage congestion
and flash flood, air pollution are manmade and are within the
knowledge and capability of the Government, NGO and private sector
to reduce and prevent completely. Urban disaster management measures
are being implemented.
Source: http://www.dmb.gov.bd/
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