Mongla, Oct 14 (V7N) – The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was observed in Mongla, Bagerhat, on Tuesday under the slogan “Resilience Starts at Home.”
The upazila administration, disaster management department and several government and non-government organisations, including Waterkeepers Bangladesh, BRAC, Friendship, Uttaran and CARE Bangladesh, jointly organised the programmes.
The observance included a rally, a discussion meeting and a disaster preparedness demonstration. The rally paraded through the streets of Mongla before participants gathered at the upazila parishad premises for the discussion.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi chaired the meeting. Speakers included Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md Matiur Rahman, Upazila Women Affairs Officer Ishrat Jahan, former Upazila Vice-Chairman and Waterkeepers Bangladesh representative Md Nur Alam Sheikh, Upazila Agriculture Officer Piyush Roy and Upazila Social Services Officer SM Masud Rana.
The speakers said Mongla was highly vulnerable to disasters, including salinity intrusion, cyclones, tidal surges and river erosion. They warned that climate change was increasing disaster risks in the region.
They also argued that Bangladesh bears little responsibility for global climate change but continues to face its severe consequences. They called on developed countries responsible for a large share of global emissions to provide compensation for climate-related losses and damage rather than offering loans.
The programme concluded with a disaster preparedness demonstration conducted by the Fire Service and Civil Defence.
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