Play store
Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brig Gen Muhammad Jahed Kamal on Sunday warned that the Fire Service itself would suffer significant damage if an earthquake measuring magnitude 7 or higher were to strike Dhaka, making simultaneous rescue operations across the capital extremely challenging.
He made the remarks while inaugurating a two-day fire safety training programme for members of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) at the Fire Service headquarters in Bangabazar.
“If an earthquake of magnitude 7 or above hits Dhaka, the Fire Service itself will also be affected. Conducting rescue operations at numerous locations simultaneously will become very difficult,” the Director General said.
To prepare for such a disaster, he said, the Fire Service has brought around 100 fire stations across the country under a coordinated emergency response plan.
“In the event of a major earthquake, manpower and rescue equipment from these stations will be deployed quickly to the affected areas. We have already conducted a dry exercise under this plan, and we are also working on using helicopters to transport firefighters and lightweight rescue equipment when necessary,” he added.
Jahed Kamal stressed that disaster preparedness should not be limited to emergency responders, saying the media also has a crucial role to play.
He suggested that television channels and news organisations develop coordinated coverage plans by dividing areas among themselves so that the government can receive timely and accurate information during a major disaster.
“If media organisations coordinate their coverage in advance, it will be easier to provide the government with reliable information quickly, making rescue operations more effective,” he said.
The Fire Service chief also urged journalists to prioritise their own safety while reporting from disaster zones.
“Before entering a building damaged by an earthquake, reporters must ensure it is safe. Rescue operations vary depending on the nature of a structural collapse, so personal safety should always come first,” he said.
He called on the media to play a greater role in raising public awareness about earthquake preparedness by regularly informing people about emergency safety measures, including where to take shelter, avoiding the use of lifts during earthquakes and keeping emergency kits containing essential medicines, flashlights and whistles.
Highlighting the evolving risks associated with Bangladesh’s expanding infrastructure, Jahed Kamal said the Fire Service was enhancing its specialised capabilities to respond to emergencies involving facilities such as the country’s nuclear power plant, metro rail system and road tunnels.
“A dedicated fire station has already been established at the nuclear power plant, and both theoretical and practical training programmes are being conducted with the support of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission,” he said.
Describing the Fire Service as a resource-intensive emergency response agency, he noted that daily firefighting and rescue operations result in high maintenance costs for vehicles and equipment.
He said continued support from development partners, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and volunteers would remain essential to strengthening the agency’s operational capacity.
The Director General also highlighted measures taken to improve transparency in recruitment and service delivery. He said the fire licence system has been fully digitised, with QR codes introduced on every licence to prevent forgery and eliminate the use of fake licences.
He called on the media to continue supporting efforts to modernise the Fire Service and work as a partner in promoting disaster preparedness and public awareness.
The training programme featured presentations by Deputy Assistant Director Md Shahjahan Sikder, while Director (Training, Planning and Development) Lt Col M A Azad Anwar, Dhaka Division Deputy Director Saleh Uddin, Warehouse Inspector Md Anwarul Islam, Station Officer Md Talha Bin Jasim, and Station Officer Md Ashek Al Maruf served as trainers.
About 40 members of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh, including its General Secretary M M Badshah, attended the programme.