A tow-day long training workshop on “Disaster Risk Reduction” begins today October 26, 2015 at auditorium of the Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) of Dhaka University. DU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated it as the chief guest.
Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies of Dhaka University, BUET, UNDP, Islamic Relief Bangladesh, International Recovery Platform (IRP) of Japan, Build Back Better Foundation and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief of Bangladesh have jointly organized this workshop.
Presided over by former MP Dr. Akram H. Chowdhury the inaugural function of the workshop was addressed by Pro-VC of Bangladesh Open University Prof. Dr. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain, Director of BUET-Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention and Urban Safety Prof. Dr. Tahmeed M. Al-Hussaini, Co-Chair of IRP Mr. Stefan Kohler, Country Director of Islamic Relief Bangladesh Mr. Shabel Firuz and Director General of Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defence Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan, psc as special guests.
Welcoming the participants on DU campus Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique said, “Our global environment is rapidly becoming more erratic. Deforestation, carbon emission, burning of fossil fuels, krypton 35 emissions from nuclear plants are well known disaster threats to climate stability and biological survivability and sustainability.”
The Vice-Chancellor said, “From time immemorial Bangladesh has been subjected to natural disasters, e.g., flood, cyclone, tidal upsurge, tornado, earthquake, heat wave, drought, etc. At different times these disasters took a heavy toll of human life and led to immense loss of property. The Country’s economy had also been affected adversely impeding its development program.”
“We must develop our coping capacities to tackle disaster situation. The capacity or ability to cope requires continuing education and training, awareness, resources, good management and disaster preparedness both in normal time and adverse time,” he pointed out.
Prof. Arefin Siddique hoped that this training workshop would enable us to develop multistakeholder coordinated leadership in disaster risk reduction and disaster mitigation.
It may be mentioned that a total of 40 teachers from different universities and NGO officials are participating in the workshop.
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(Mahmood Alam)
Deputy Director
Public Relations Office
Dhaka University