International Day for Disaster Reduction was observed on Sunday focusing on the people with disabilities who are the most vulnerable groups in any disasters.
The theme of the day this year was ‘Living with Disability and Disasters’.
To mark the day, ministry of disaster management and relief organised a programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
Speaking at the function, prime minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised setting up separate units in every forces including the army, navy and air force to respond to the disasters.
‘Every force should have a separate unit, training and necessary equipment to enhance their disaster management ability,’ she said.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country due to its geographical location and people with disabilities suffer excessively high level of disaster risks due to people’s failure to consider their needs.
She said the government has been constructing 100 multipurpose cyclone shelters having ramp facilities considering the needs of the physically challenged people.
She also said it was not possible only for the government to involve the physically challenged people in disaster preparedness and post-disaster management.
She urged every man and woman of society to take equal responsibility to this end.
-With New Age input
