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The Fire Service and Civil Defence, Dhaka Division, has held a preparedness meeting with government and private-sector stakeholders to strengthen coordinated firefighting and rescue operations following a major earthquake.
The meeting was held on Monday at the conference room of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) of the Fire Service in Mirpur.
Representatives and owners of government and private organisations possessing heavy rescue equipment, including cranes and excavators, from Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Narsingdi attended the meeting.
The meeting was organised under the direction of Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Zahid Kamal, NDC, AFWC, PSC, as Dhaka is considered one of the country’s areas most vulnerable to earthquakes.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Mahmudul Hasan, PSC, Director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, attended the meeting as chief guest.
The meeting began at 11am with the recitation of the Quran, followed by introductions of Fire Service personnel and invited representatives. Fire Service Deputy Director (Operations and Maintenance) Md Mamunur Rashid delivered the welcome address.
In his speech, Lieutenant Colonel Mahmudul Hasan instructed zone commanders and district officers of the Fire Service in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Narsingdi to strengthen coordination and communication with relevant stakeholders to ensure a rapid and effective response following a major earthquake.
He also called for the preparation of detailed plans for firefighting and rescue operations and for regular training and drills involving relevant agencies and stakeholders.
An open discussion was held afterwards, with representatives of participating government and private organisations sharing their views and suggestions on how they could assist the Fire Service during a major national disaster.
The participants thanked the Fire Service for organising the initiative and expressed their commitment to supporting rescue operations from their respective positions.
Md Afzal Hossain, president of the Heavy Equipment Association Bangladesh, said the association was ready to work jointly with the Fire Service during rescue operations. He proposed forming an ‘Emergency Equipment Support Team’ comprising owners and operators of heavy rescue equipment.
Representatives from the Public Works Department, Dhaka North City Corporation, Narayanganj City Corporation, Gazipur City Corporation and the Roads and Highways Department also took part in the discussion.
Representatives from NDE, Abdul Monem Group, Max Group, Bashundhara Group, Akij Ispat, Maximus Group and various contracting firms also shared their views.
Around 70 owners and representatives of government and private organisations attended the meeting.
In his closing remarks, Md Saleh Uddin, Deputy Director of the Fire Service, Dhaka Division, called for all relevant agencies and stakeholders to work together in times of major disasters.
Through a PowerPoint presentation, he showed photographs of the Rana Plaza building collapse and rescue operations following recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Myanmar, highlighting the importance of coordinated action.
He also called for the formation of the proposed Emergency Equipment Support Team, stronger communication and coordination with heavy equipment owners and businesses, and the organisation of regular training sessions and drills.
Fire Service Dhaka Assistant Director Kazi Nazmuzaman, PFM, Assistant Director (Operations) AKM Shamsuzzoha, and zone heads and district officers from Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Narsingdi were also present at the meeting.