President urges science-based disaster management

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the authorities to adopt a science-based, transparent and accountable approach to disaster management, prioritising risk reduction and preparedness over post-disaster recovery.

Speaking at an event marking International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday (13 October), the president stressed that preparedness must extend beyond policy documents and become an integral part of daily life. Held under the theme “Start at Home, Build a Disaster-Resilient Country”, the event underscored the importance of strengthening household readiness to ensure long-term resilience. Emphasising that families are often the first to bear the consequences of disasters, he urged citizens to secure their homes, assemble emergency supplies, safeguard essential documents and respond promptly to official warnings. He also identified earthquakes as an increasingly alarming threat, particularly in Dhaka and other urban centres, where unplanned development and lax enforcement of building codes could magnify casualties and structural damage. Furthermore, he highlighted the country’s exposure to floods, storms, tidal surges and river erosion, as well as the intensifying effects of climate change, warning that vulnerable coastal areas face substantial risks. Citing a recent devastating glacial collapse in Nepal, he illustrated how swiftly natural disasters can disrupt livelihoods, economic stability and human security.

While acknowledging Bangladesh’s achievements in disaster management, the president called for stronger legal protection for frontline volunteers, urging the ministry concerned to introduce a modern legal framework safeguarding their rights, dignity and security. He also insisted that women, children, older people and persons with disabilities be placed at the centre of preparedness and response strategies. Moreover, he advocated preserving the natural flow of rivers and canals, curbing environmental pollution and expanding tree-planting initiatives. Referring to the government’s reported plan to plant roughly 250 million trees nationwide under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, he expressed optimism that effective implementation would help restore ecological balance and bolster the country’s capacity to withstand natural hazards.

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The event was chaired by the Disaster Management and Relief Secretary and attended by Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister M Iqbal Hossain and parliamentary standing committee chairman Munsi Rafiqul Alam.