Speakers at a workshop on Tuesday underscored the need for preparedness and coordination to face any kind of natural or manmade disaster. The workshop titled “Multinational Planning Augmentation Team Tempest Express 22 (MPAT TE-22) Shetubandhan or Bridging the Ties of Friendship” focused on the subject of earthquake. US ambassador Dan W Mozena inaugurated the Top Table Exercise (TTE) session as the chief guest at Hotel Westin in city’s Gulshan area.
He said, “The incident of Rana Plaza brought forth the importance of preparedness against natural and manmade calamities.”
“It is a high time to take a lesson from the mega disaster and get prepared to face such calamities with the best rescue efforts.(and) if an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale takes place in the city (Dhaka) around 70,000 buildings will collapse,” he said.
Dhaka is listed among the top 20 earthquake-prone cities.
According to geologists, if an earthquake of magnitude 7 takes place near Dhaka, about 70,000 among 3,26,000 buildings in the city will damage severely, about 0.184 million people will become homeless instantly, minimum 70,000 people would die and at least 1,86,000 families will severely suffer as electricity, water and gas lines will be damaged.
UN resident coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Neal Walker said the coordination between armed forces division and civilian agencies is important for any rescue operation.
“Strong coordination is very much important to fight any disaster.(in this situation) everyone (AFD and civilian) should be well known about the rescue plan,” he said.
Additional Secretary and Director General of Department of Disaster Management Mohammad Abdul Wazed said the country should keep itself prepared for any disaster so that rescue team can put in maximum efforts in minimum time.
Directorate General, Operations, Plan Directorate of AFD Brigadier General Jahangir Kabir Talukder aslo underlined the importance of coordination with civilian agencies.
The 10-day workshop organized by The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) and Bangladesh Armed Forces Division (AFD) with cooperation of US government began on May 5.
-With The Independent input
