BSS, Savar :
A team of Japanese experts on Saturday monitored an earthquake evacuation drill at a garment factory here to educate the RMG worker how they will save themselves in a jolt.
The drill named “CBDM” (Community Based Disaster Management) was conducted at DK Knitwear Ltd under CNCRP project (Capacity Development of Natural Disaster Resistant techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings), implemented by Public Works Department (PWD) with technical support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A high official team of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense also monitored the evacuation drill.
After the tragic incident of Rana Plaza, JICA expert team leader Fumio Kaneko said the Japanese government planned to share its disaster management experiences and technology with the Bangladesh garments industry.
He said as part of the initiative, they have monitored the evacuation drill today. Under the CNCRP, the Japanese experts will do “retrofit”, a Japanese technology to strengthen a building, at the DK garment factory soon to make its buildings earthquake resistant.
JICA expert team member Mahbub Reza stressed the need for taking preparedness among garment workers considering past history of earthquakes in Bangladesh and the vulnerabilities of RMG units like Rana Plaza. Directors of DK Garments Maj (retd) Syed Hasan Zahid and Syed ATM Tareque were also present on the occasion.
Bangladesh is located on some active faults, and every 100- 150 years of its history, the country faced jolts of major earthquakes.
