Want to get Bangladesh ready to face any calamity: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said she wants to prepare Bangladesh in such a way so that it can face any sort of disaster whether it is a manmade or natural one.

"Whether a manmade or natural disaster strikes, Bangladesh will always remain prepared to tackle it. That's what we need," she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing an event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) marking the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

Disaster Management and Relief Ministry organised the programme with the theme 'Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services'.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh now enjoys the honour as a role model of tackling natural disaster alongside the tag for development.

"We want to build the country as a developed and prosperous one. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of building Golden Bengal. We've been working tirelessly to fulfill that dream," she said.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and Relief Ministry AB Tajul Islam and Senior Secretary Md Shah Kamal also spoke at the programme.

Shefali Rani Shil and Mohammad Shahidul Islam who got disaster resilient houses, constructed by the government, expressed their feelings at the programme.

The Prime Minister distributed Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) awards to three volunteers from Chattogram, Barishal and Khulna divisions. This year, 82 volunteers got the awards.

She also inaugurated 100 multipurpose cyclone shelters in 14 districts and 11,604 disaster resilient houses in 64 districts.

Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Exhibition on Disaster Risk Reduction.