UNB, Dhaka :
Describing Bangladesh as an internationally-recognised role model in tackling both natural and manmade disasters, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said there should be more preparedness for facing any strong earthquake.
“Disasters can come at any moment. So, we’ll have to remain alert all the time. There should be more preparedness for facing earthquakes,” she said citing the growing risk of earthquakes in the country.
The Prime Minister came up with the remarks while delivering her introductory speech in a meeting with the high officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief during her visit to the Ministry yesterday.
She also reaffirmed her government’s resolve to free the country from poverty braving all disasters.
“Bangladesh is now an internationally-recognised role model in tackling both natural and manmade disasters. Once Bangladesh was known as a country of militants, terrorists and bombings, but we’ve been able to elevate the country’s image to a respectable position erasing all sorts of bad names,” Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said, “Since we’ve set an example in tackling natural disasters, we’ll have to ensure further socioeconomic development of the country’s people.”
Renewing her pledge to turn Bangladesh into a mid-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, she said some 5 crore people have graduated from the lower class to the middle class over the last five and a half years while the current rate of poverty is 24.8 percent.
Hasina said, it will not be difficult to free the country from poverty if the assistance, no matter how much, being provided to people from the government are utilised properly.
Mentioning that her government has been able to ensure food security, she said the country’s food grain production is now about 3.68 crore metric tonnes while the government has also taken a decision to export 50,000 metric tonnes of coarse rice to Sri Lanka. “It’s a big thing to enhance food production in a country which is disaster-prone one.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted the construction of silos and godowns with financial assistance from Japan to store food for up to three years so that the country does not need to beg or seek help from others during any disaster.
Noting that there was almost nothing for the Fire Service and Civil Defense prior to taking of office in her previous term in 2009, she said work is under way to set up fire service and civil defense station in every upazila.
She also stressed considering the provision of having water bodies while constructing any structure and building.
Describing Bangladesh as an internationally-recognised role model in tackling both natural and manmade disasters, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said there should be more preparedness for facing any strong earthquake.
“Disasters can come at any moment. So, we’ll have to remain alert all the time. There should be more preparedness for facing earthquakes,” she said citing the growing risk of earthquakes in the country.
The Prime Minister came up with the remarks while delivering her introductory speech in a meeting with the high officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief during her visit to the Ministry yesterday.
She also reaffirmed her government’s resolve to free the country from poverty braving all disasters.
“Bangladesh is now an internationally-recognised role model in tackling both natural and manmade disasters. Once Bangladesh was known as a country of militants, terrorists and bombings, but we’ve been able to elevate the country’s image to a respectable position erasing all sorts of bad names,” Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said, “Since we’ve set an example in tackling natural disasters, we’ll have to ensure further socioeconomic development of the country’s people.”
Renewing her pledge to turn Bangladesh into a mid-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, she said some 5 crore people have graduated from the lower class to the middle class over the last five and a half years while the current rate of poverty is 24.8 percent.
Hasina said, it will not be difficult to free the country from poverty if the assistance, no matter how much, being provided to people from the government are utilised properly.
Mentioning that her government has been able to ensure food security, she said the country’s food grain production is now about 3.68 crore metric tonnes while the government has also taken a decision to export 50,000 metric tonnes of coarse rice to Sri Lanka. “It’s a big thing to enhance food production in a country which is disaster-prone one.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted the construction of silos and godowns with financial assistance from Japan to store food for up to three years so that the country does not need to beg or seek help from others during any disaster.
Noting that there was almost nothing for the Fire Service and Civil Defense prior to taking of office in her previous term in 2009, she said work is under way to set up fire service and civil defense station in every upazila.
She also stressed considering the provision of having water bodies while constructing any structure and building.
