Speakers at a post-rally discussion here on Sunday said proper and effective uses of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can help reduce loss of lives and property caused by the natural disasters.
They viewed there is no scope of preventing occurrence of natural catastrophe but there is scope of reducing damage and other casualties through the best uses of modern technologies and communications.
Besides, the persons with disabilities and other challenged people should be given priority in the activities and process of disaster reduction as they become more victimized in any disaster.
District administration organized the discussion at Rajshahi Government Laboratory High School Auditorium to mark the National Disaster Preparedness Day-2018 in association with various development organizations.
Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader addressed the discussion as the chief guest with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Salahuddin in the chair.
In his welcome speech, Aminul Islam, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, highlighted the significance of the day and good collaboration and coordination towards mitigation of loss of life and asset of any disaster.
He also put forward a set of recommendations on how to substantially reduce risks and losses caused by the disasters. The speakers stressed the need for a comprehensive approach for reducing the prevailing risks of the natural disaster and said importance should be given on local resource mobilization through creating mass awareness to attain the cherished goal.
They put emphasis on integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies and planning side by side with development and strengthening of institutions and mechanism. Fine-arts competition for the students and rehearsal by the fire brigade and civil defense personnel were also arranged here in observance of the day.
Collective efforts needed for building planned family
Speakers at a discussion said here yesterday the collective effort has become an urgent need to make all the fertile families planned for the sake of happy and prosperous Bangladesh.
They viewed that there is no way, but to create public awareness about aspects of planned family and that is very important for freeing the nation from the curse of poverty and hunger besides attaining economic emancipation.
They made this observation while addressing the opening session of a two- day Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Family Planning Fair-2018 in the city.
Department of Family Planning (DFP) and District Administration jointly organized the fair at Green Plaza of Rajshahi City Corporation in order to reaching the message of planned family to the public in general.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Nur-Ur-Rahman and divisional director of DFP Moloy Kumar Roy addressed the meeting as the chief and special guests respectively with Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader in the chair.
In her welcome speech, deputy director of the department Dr Nasim Akhter gave an overview of the district level family planning activities and, so far, achieved.
She highlighted the aims and objectives of the fair. The speakers said the national development activities could be taken forward furthermore if all the fertile families were planned and stressed the need for giving highest priority to the family planning activities.
They laid emphasis on bringing all the fertile couples under the campaign programme through reaching the family planning message to them especially those who live in remotest and underprivileged areas.
Highlighting the necessity of expediting the village-level family planning activities, Nur-Ur-Rahman underlined the need for giving top priority to motivating the fertile couples so that they could control their unwanted pregnancy through using contraceptives.
He stressed the need for hundred percent institutional delivery and prevention of the child marriage through joint efforts of government and non- government entities concerned.
