President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) Barrister Md. Sameer Sattar said strong public and private sector fraternity is essential to steer the much-needed disaster risk management along with a long-term master plan to safeguard industries.
He said this at a symposium on “private sector’s participation in disaster risk management: towards Smart Bangladesh” jointly organized by DCCI and Strengthening Urban Public-Private Programming for Earthquake Resilience (SUPER) Project Consortium held at Radisson Hotel in Dhaka on Saturday, said a media release.
SUPER project is a consortium initiative implemented by DCCI, ActionAid Bangladesh, United Purpose and World Vision supported by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md. Atiqul Islam joined the event virtually as special guests.
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BIDA Executive Chairman Lokman Hossain Miah, FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin and Department of Disaster Management DG Mijanur Rahman were also present as guests of honour at the event chaired by DCCI President Sattar.
Sameer Sattar said disaster risk has broad socioeconomic and developmental implications crippling the sustenance of businesses and industries.
Industry is the lifeline of the economy contributing 36% of GDP in Bangladesh. Disaster risk has far-reaching consequences on sustainability of business. Bangladesh can offer a wide range of financial tools to enhance the financial resilience of the private sector as disaster control measures, he said.
In Bangladesh, awareness building, compliance, central disaster management fund, easy access to low-cost funds and other tax advantages can provide some good solutions to ensure an effective and result-oriented Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ecosystem, he added.
Mayor Taposh said that disaster risk management strategy should be implemented through public-private partnership mode to make it more sustainable.
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He also suggested making the private sector emergency operation centre (PEOC) effective.
The maor4 also informed that there are 75 words under DSCC and each has about 400 volunteers to work. DSCC has already allocated an increased budget for training and fire drills to make Bangladesh smart.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul said that in offices, homes and markets fire drills should be mandatory to raise awareness.
“Moreover, we do not have underearth utility service mapping and due to lack of proper GIS mapping sometimes it becomes risky to do infrastructure related work especially in the roads,” he said.
He also said that if the canals can be re-gained these will be a good source of water if any fire incident happens.
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The mayor urged the owners of commercial towers to arrange frequent fire drills and ensure enough space in the tower. Moreover the government alone can’t implement disaster risk management.
Urging all to abide by the building code, BIDA’s Lokman Hossain Miah said, “Where there is life, there is risk, therefore, we have to have a masterplan for being a disaster resilient country.”
He termed Dhaka as the most vulnerable city in Bangladesh. But not only Dhaka, the entire country will have to be brought under a masterplan.
He also termed technology as a strong tool to fight against disaster as well as he stressed on easy financing mechanisms to face disasters.
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Business leader Jashim Uddin said that in terms of businesses, “We are in a competitive world. Any disaster may harm our competitiveness in the international market.”
He said, “We can’t allow our industries and employees or workers to be endangered by any disaster. We have to identify the risky factories and industries and make them ready for facing disasters.”
He also said that the capacity of fire service and civil defence should be strengthened more. There is no alternative to maintaining compliance in industries. In that case the private sector has a big role to play along with the public sector.
DG Mizanur said that the disaster risk management should be inclusive. Since Bangladesh is situated in a disaster prone zone, therefore all have to be ready with adequate equipment.
Technology can play a pivotal role in facing disaster risks, he said, adding that the young generation will have to be engaged in disaster risk management systems.
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Later a website of a private sector emergency operation centre was launched.
DCCI senior vice president SM Golam Faruk Alamgir (Arman) offered vote of thanks.
Two parallel sessions titled “disaster risk management financing strategy” and “technology in DRM towards smart Bangladesh” were held under the symposium where related stakeholder sector leaders also spoke.