The Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP), an umbrella project for disaster management, will be launched soon with support from the UNDP and other development partners, said A F M Saiful Islam, director general in-charge of the Disaster Management Bureau.

He said a component of the project was Urban Risk Management under which tremors would be tackled.

He presented a paper on, 'Vision and Activities towards National Preparation in the Context of Coping with Disasters including Earthquake' at the discussion on "Awareness and Salvation in Respect of Earthquake," organised by Bangladesh Earthquake Society (BES) at BRAC University.

Saiful said the historical seismic data of Bangladesh and its adjoining areas showed Bangladesh vulnerable to earthquakes.

A number of cities and towns witnessing steady construction boom of highrises and infrastructural facilities are at high risks, especially because of dense population, he said.

Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, vice-chancellor of BRAC University and president of BES, said the government should enforce the existing building construction code for highrises to avert serious earthquake damage to cities.

"There should be a post-earthquake management mechanism so that authorities can handle the situation," he added.

"A documentation system in this regard is very important," Jamilur said in the chair's speech to the discussion.

Dr Mehedi Ahmed Ansary of the Department of Civil Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) presented another paper on the recent quake in Rangamati.

He illustrated his assessment of the preliminary damage caused by the tremor and warned that more earthquakes could strike the district in future.

"Necessary steps for earthquake management should be taken," he said.

Dr Ansary said among major buildings Chittagong Public Library suffered the worst damage while scores of mud houses were flattened.

Mir Fazlul Karim, director of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh, said: "We have to take lessons from the recent earthquakes and move forward for the future management plan."

Among others, Dr Tahmid Al-Hossainy, associate professor of Civil Engineering at BUET and Group Captain Mueen, consultant of Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center (BDPC), also spoke.