SAARC workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction begins

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A two-day SAARC workshop on 'Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness' began in the city Monday to provide effective guidelines for reducing the disaster vulnerabilities of communities in the South Asian regions, reports UNB.
Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury formally inaugurated the regional workshop, organised by SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management and the Disaster Management Bureau (DMB), at Hotel Sheraton.
Food and Disaster Management secretary Dr Mohammad Ayub Miah presided over the inaugural function. Additional secretary and convenor of the workshop organising committee Md Abdul Bari Khan, SDMC director of India PG Dhar Chakraborty and DMB director general KH Masud Siddiqui spoke on the occasion.
Representatives from eight SAARC member countries -- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- are participating in the workshop.
Replying to the reporters' query after the inaugural session of the workshop, Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said there was no bar under the state of emergency now in force in the country for the political leaders to participate in the relief works.
He urged the people of all strata, including political leaders and student organisations, to come forward with positive attitude and extend their helping hand to the cyclone-affected people.
Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said: "Disaster risk reduction and community preparedness are essential preconditions of sustainable development and also an important element for the achievement of the development goals."