UNB, Dhaka :
Aiming to tackle the risks of natural disasters, like earthquake, the government has initiated a move to strengthen the capacity of the concerned government agencies to efficiently and effectively respond to emergency events.
‘Urban Resilience Project’, an umbrella project supported by the World Bank, involving an estimated cost of Tk 1,390.10 crore and having four components is awaiting approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Talking to UNB, a Planning Commission official said that the main objective of this umbrella project is to strengthen the capacity of the concerned government agencies to efficiently and effectively respond to emergency events in Dhaka and Sylhet.
Besides, the project also aims to strengthen systems to reduce the vulnerability of future building construction in the two cities.
Out of the total project cost of Tk 1,390.10 crore, Tk 58 crore will come from the government exchequer, while Tk 1,332.10 crore or around $ 173 million as project assistance by the World Bank.
A total of six government agencies and bodies will be entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the four components of the umbrella project from July, 2015 to June, 2020.
Talking to UNB, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Additional Secretary Kazi Shafiqul Azam said that the World Bank Board has already approved the fund for this project.
He said that, once it is approved by the ECNEC, then the project agreement between the government and the World Bank will be signed by this month or the next month.
Another official at the Planning Commission said that the ‘Component A’ of the project is reinforcing the country’s emergency management response capacity which will be put in place and will mobilize the resources at
all levels and assign roles and responsibilities more efficiently.
Department of Disaster Management will implement one part of this component with an estimated cost of Tk 126.20 crore. Dhaka North City Corporation is the implementing agency of another part of this component with estimated cost of Tk 750.80 crore while Dhaka South City Corporation, Sylhet City Corporation and Fire Service and Civil Defense will be involved for implementing this component.
The ‘Component B’ is vulnerability assessment of critical and essential facilities which aims to develop the consensus-driven analytical foundation required for longer-term investments to reduce risks in the built environment of Dhaka, Sylhet and other cities in Bangladesh.
The ‘Component C’ is improved construction, urban planning and development of which the objective is to put in place the institutional infrastructure and competency to reduce long-term disaster vulnerability in Dhaka. It would address both the existing built environment as well as future development.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakhha (Rajuk) is responsible for implementing both the B and C components with an estimated cost of Tk 433.10 crore.
The ‘Component D’ is project coordination, monitoring and evaluation to provide necessary funding for project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. It will also ensure periodic evaluation of the investment program to highlight the outputs and outcomes in support of a longer-term investment program.
Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU) of the Planning Commission will implement this component with an estimated cost of Tk 80 crore.
Out of the major project activities under various components, there will be establishment of the national disaster management research and training institute (NDTRI) to increase national capability of disaster management methods, setting up of an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in the capital for disaster management alongside setting up of satellite control rooms in 10 zonal offices, establish an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in Sylhet, improving building code enforcement within Rajuk jurisdiction.
The Pre-Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on this Umbrella project was held on February 12, 2015 with Planning Commission member Arastoo Khan in the chair.
Earlier in December 2011, the ERD had requested the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) of the World Bank to lend support to Bangladesh for strengthening capacity to tackle disasters.
Following such request, the Washington-based lending agency through appointing an international consultation firm conducted a comprehensive pre-appraisal or pre-investment study.
Considering the necessity of effective response to urban disasters, reinforcing existing infrastructure and ensuring resilience construction aspects, the World Bank suggested for undertaking such investment project.
Aiming to tackle the risks of natural disasters, like earthquake, the government has initiated a move to strengthen the capacity of the concerned government agencies to efficiently and effectively respond to emergency events.
‘Urban Resilience Project’, an umbrella project supported by the World Bank, involving an estimated cost of Tk 1,390.10 crore and having four components is awaiting approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Talking to UNB, a Planning Commission official said that the main objective of this umbrella project is to strengthen the capacity of the concerned government agencies to efficiently and effectively respond to emergency events in Dhaka and Sylhet.
Besides, the project also aims to strengthen systems to reduce the vulnerability of future building construction in the two cities.
Out of the total project cost of Tk 1,390.10 crore, Tk 58 crore will come from the government exchequer, while Tk 1,332.10 crore or around $ 173 million as project assistance by the World Bank.
A total of six government agencies and bodies will be entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the four components of the umbrella project from July, 2015 to June, 2020.
Talking to UNB, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Additional Secretary Kazi Shafiqul Azam said that the World Bank Board has already approved the fund for this project.
He said that, once it is approved by the ECNEC, then the project agreement between the government and the World Bank will be signed by this month or the next month.
Another official at the Planning Commission said that the ‘Component A’ of the project is reinforcing the country’s emergency management response capacity which will be put in place and will mobilize the resources at
all levels and assign roles and responsibilities more efficiently.
Department of Disaster Management will implement one part of this component with an estimated cost of Tk 126.20 crore. Dhaka North City Corporation is the implementing agency of another part of this component with estimated cost of Tk 750.80 crore while Dhaka South City Corporation, Sylhet City Corporation and Fire Service and Civil Defense will be involved for implementing this component.
The ‘Component B’ is vulnerability assessment of critical and essential facilities which aims to develop the consensus-driven analytical foundation required for longer-term investments to reduce risks in the built environment of Dhaka, Sylhet and other cities in Bangladesh.
The ‘Component C’ is improved construction, urban planning and development of which the objective is to put in place the institutional infrastructure and competency to reduce long-term disaster vulnerability in Dhaka. It would address both the existing built environment as well as future development.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakhha (Rajuk) is responsible for implementing both the B and C components with an estimated cost of Tk 433.10 crore.
The ‘Component D’ is project coordination, monitoring and evaluation to provide necessary funding for project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. It will also ensure periodic evaluation of the investment program to highlight the outputs and outcomes in support of a longer-term investment program.
Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU) of the Planning Commission will implement this component with an estimated cost of Tk 80 crore.
Out of the major project activities under various components, there will be establishment of the national disaster management research and training institute (NDTRI) to increase national capability of disaster management methods, setting up of an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in the capital for disaster management alongside setting up of satellite control rooms in 10 zonal offices, establish an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in Sylhet, improving building code enforcement within Rajuk jurisdiction.
The Pre-Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on this Umbrella project was held on February 12, 2015 with Planning Commission member Arastoo Khan in the chair.
Earlier in December 2011, the ERD had requested the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) of the World Bank to lend support to Bangladesh for strengthening capacity to tackle disasters.
Following such request, the Washington-based lending agency through appointing an international consultation firm conducted a comprehensive pre-appraisal or pre-investment study.
Considering the necessity of effective response to urban disasters, reinforcing existing infrastructure and ensuring resilience construction aspects, the World Bank suggested for undertaking such investment project.
