News Desk : dhakamirror.com
A large number of urban residents live in slums, lacking water, healthcare, sanitation, governance, infrastructure, and socialisation, said speakers at an event yesterday.
At the event titled “Redefining Resilience of Cities and its Services,” speakers emphasised the need to enhance the quality of life for slum residents in Bangladesh.
They also projected that by 2030, nearly 45 percent of the population will be living in urban areas. This rapid urbanisation calls for immediate action to address the pressing issues faced by slum dwellers, they said.
Prof Akter Mahmud from Jahangirnagar University’s department of urban and regional planning, stressed the need to provide adequate, safe, and affordable housing, along with basic services, to all citizens by 2030.
Salma Begum, a resident of Mirpur section-7 slum, shared her distressing experiences, expressing fears of eviction and fires that constantly plague the slums. She blamed the lack of opportunities and resources on the indifference of political leaders and government officials.
SK Moniruzzaman, director general of NGO Affairs Bureau at the Prime Minister’s Office, also spoke at the event.
In another session, speakers emphasised the involvement of the private sector and media in disaster risk management. They stressed on coordination between the National Emergency Operation Center and the Private Sector Emergency Operation Center to ensure comprehensive disaster preparedness.
AM Nashir Uddin, consortium manager of ActionAid Bangladesh, presented the keynote. Mijanur Rahman, director general of the Department of Disaster Management, was also present, among others.
