Published: 11:50 PM, 13 October 2026
Experts for protecting environment to reduce disaster risks
The 'International Day for Disaster Reduction 2026' was observed on Tuesday with a call to protect the environment, alongside ensuring inclusive advance preparedness to reduce risks and save human lives during disasters.
The Rangpur district administration with the support of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief organised a colorful rally followed by a discussion meeting and a drill on fire safety measures in the city marking the day.
Earlier, the rally was brought out from the Deputy Commissioner's office premises and it circled the main roads of the city and ended in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office again.
Following the rally, a drill on the appropriate response to a fire incident was held on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner's office.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Christopher Himel Richil presided over the post-rally discussion held at the Deputy Commissioner's conference room.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Rangpur District Police Md Zainal Abedin, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Golam Kibria, Senior Station Officer of the Rangpur Fire Service and Civil Defense Station Md Anwarul Haque and Assistant Director of the Red Crescent Society Md Anwarul Haque, spoke at the event.
The speakers expressed concern over natural disasters caused by climate change-such as earthquakes, tornadoes, cyclones, storm surges, droughts, floods, and riverbank and coastal erosion-and called for environmental protection to reduce disaster risks.
In his address, the Additional Deputy Commissioner said that resilience and awareness are essential for mitigating damage and quickly recovering after any accident- must be cultivated starting from one's own home.
Regarding the role of voluntary organizations in disaster risk reduction in Bangladesh, he described them as a powerful tool in the country's disaster management system.
Speaking about Scouts, he noted that they constantly enrich themselves by participating in various training sessions and drills.
"Scouts can utilize the knowledge they have gained to raise awareness among their families, neighbors, and classmates about the necessary actions to take during disasters," he said.
To this end, he stressed the need to expand the training programmes of the Fire Service and Civil Defense beyond their currently set targets.
He called upon government offices, Union Parishads, educational institutions, NGOs, and various voluntary organizations to play an effective role in disaster risk reduction by directly engaging in these training activities.
