Global move to work together against disaster stressed

Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju blamed Monday developed countries' apathy to release their committed fund for implementing the disaster mitigation projects.

The minister also held the developed countries responsible for causing environmental disaster in the world.

Underlining the importance of a combined global initiative, Mr Manju urged all the countries to work together against disaster, which has now turned into a serious global problem.

The minister made those observations while speaking as chief guest at a seminar at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city, marking the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

This year's theme of the day is 'Resilience is for life'. The day is observed worldwide with the cooperation of United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

Observing that man-made disaster is much more dangerous than natural ones, Anwar Hussain laid emphasis on utilising  experience of the elderly people as their experiences helped the mankind survive till date.

 Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said Bangladesh has acquired high competence and achieved remarkable improvement in disaster reduction.

He said the number of casualties also decreased significantly in the country as 3363 people were killed in super cyclone Sidr in 2007 followed by 190 in cyclone Aila in 2009 and 17 in Mahasen in 2013.

"While more than 150000 people were killed in Cyclone Nargis of the same category in Myanmar in 2010," he mentioned.

He said the government has already built over 4,000 shelter centres against the requirement of 6,000. The minister also sought financial assistance from various global institutions to this effect.

Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, chairmen of the parliamentary standing committees on the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, and Secretary of the Ministry Misbahul Alam also spoke on the occasion.

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