Adequate public awareness about earthquake and early preparedness with efficient emergency response systems can substantially reduce the extent of losses of human lives during the natural calamity.
The opinion came at a discussion arranged on the occasion of demonstrating artificial earthquake drill at Keramotia High School ground under Ward No-18 in Rangpur yesterday.
Ward Disaster Management Committees (WDMCs) and Volunteers’ Groups jointly organised the drill with assistance of Fire Service & Civil Defense Station under ”Enhancing Inclusive Disaster Resilience in Bangladesh’ project being funded by Oxfam.
Rangpur City Corporation and ‘Pollishree’, an NGO, extended cooperation in arranging the drill for raising awareness among the students as well as common people about earthquake.
Former Chairman of defunct Rangpur pourashava Kazi Mohammad Junnon addressed the discussion as the chief guest with Project Coordinator of ‘Pollishree’ Shahanaz Parveen in the chair.
Senior Station Officer of Rangpur Fire Service & Civil Defense Station Shahidul Islam, Advocacy & Communication Officer of ‘Pollishree’ Rezaul Karim Reza, its Project Officer Fazlul Haque and Master Trainer Asaduzzaman Afzal, addressed among others.
Later, City Councilor Mrs Jafrin Islam Ripa inaugurated the artificial
earthquake drill as the guest of honour.
In the discussion, Shahidul Islam narrated about importance of building
awareness on earthquake among students and providing them with adequate
training for comprehensive disaster managements during earthquake.
“The loses of human lives could be reduced substantially by providing
training on basic first aids and disaster preparedness among the students to
enable them assisting the victims timely on the spots during and after
earthquake,” he said.
Rezaul Karim Reza said most of the severest intensity earthquakes occurred
at daytimes in past 100 years causing maximum casualties in educational
institutions for lack of preparedness and knowledge among teachers, students
and concerned authorities.
The chief guest called for incorporating special curriculum on reducing
disaster risks and providing training to the teachers and students to
disseminate knowledge on earthquake preparedness and create mass social
awareness on self-saving for all people.
He suggested for organising and demonstrating artificial earthquake
drills, rescue and relief operations in all educational intuitions to educate
the students and teachers on their roles for safety during and post
earthquake times.
