PM for inclusion of people with disabilities in dev process

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged on Tuesday the international community to put the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development and disaster risk management process, reports UNB.

"Bangladesh did it...we want all to do that," she said while inaugurating the three-day 2nd international conference on Disability and Disaster Risk Management at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

The conference is aimed at giving policymakers, activists, experts, disabled persons and different stakeholders an opportunity to share progress and experiences on disability-inclusive implementation of the Sendai Framework.

Some 110 experts from 33 countries are attending the conference arranged by Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.

Sheikh Hasina also said Bangladesh is ready to face any sort of natural calamity taking the experience of previous ones. "We've prepared a complete guideline outlining the 'to-do' list during natural calamities."

She said Bangladesh is known as a role model of disaster management and is now moving towards building resilience as the country is facing recurrent disasters such as cyclone, tidal surge, flood, tornado, lightning and landslide.

"We all are committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and its targets by 2030. We're implementing all the developmental activities, including disaster management for all people, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, excluded group like persons with disabilities," she said.

Some 4,088 storm shelters and 255 flood shelters have been constructed during the last nine and a half years all over the country to reduce disaster risk. Besides construction of 220 storm shelters is going on, she added.

The prime minister mentioned that construction of 423 flood shelters and 66 relief godowns is underway.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya presided over the programme while Kajol Rekha, a person with disability, spoke on the occasion. Disaster Management Secretary Md Shah Kamal delivered the welcome speech.

Parliament member of Thailand Munthein Buntan presented the keynote at the programme.

A message of Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Mami Mizutori was read out at the programme.

A video on disability and disaster management was screened.