445 earthquake-safe shelters identified in Dhaka: minister

The government has also prepared 100,000 volunteers in the capital to aid emergency response, he says

The government has designated 445 safe shelters across Dhaka to protect residents in the event of earthquakes and other emergencies, Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said.

He said a proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to formally designate the locations as “earthquake-safe shelters”.

Responding to a question from Gopalganj-1 MP Selimuzzaman Molla in parliament on Tuesday, the minister said 256 of the shelters are located in Dhaka South City Corporation and 189 in Dhaka North City Corporation.

Dulu said the government has also taken steps to prepare 100,000 volunteers in Dhaka and surrounding areas to strengthen post-earthquake rescue and emergency response efforts.

The minister added that coordination among the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the Geological Survey Department and other agencies has been strengthened to improve the monitoring and rapid dissemination of earthquake and tsunami-related information.

“As Bangladesh is located close to regions vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis, the government is giving the highest priority to preparedness for such disasters. Different risk-reduction and disaster-resilience initiatives are being implemented,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of complying with the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) to ensure the construction of earthquake-resistant infrastructure.