Speech by Chief Guest Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP - BUP

DRAFT
Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (Phase II)
5th Expert Consultation Workshop on
Dissenter Management Curriculum
Speech of the Chief Guest
Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque MP
Honorable Minister, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management
31 July, 2010
Hon’ble Chair of this Expert Consultation Workshop, Major General. Md. Shafiqul
Islam, Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh University of Professionals,
Special Guest, Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed Chief of Bangladesh Naval Forces,
Colleagues of my ministry,
Distinguished Participants from different Universities, Research and Training
Institutes and academies,
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Assalamu Alaikum and Good morning.
You know that Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) is a project
of my Ministry which has been formulated keeping in mind the disaster management
vision of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to reduce the risk of
people, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, from the effects of natural,
environment and human induced hazards to a manageable and acceptable
humanitarian level and to have in place an efficient emergency response
management system.
CDMP-I has stared its journey back in 2004 having a significant backdrop to further
develop, enhance and implement disaster risk reduction cultures in the country
under five strategic focus areas following fourteen different components which
addresses all potential disaster management issues in the country. CDMP I ran from
2004 to 2009 which was achieved through collaborative partnerships over 75
regional, national and local organizations. CDMP II is a natural expansion and a
logical scaling up of its first phase, which has started from 2010 for 5 years.
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The pioneering phase of CDMP (2004 -2009) laid the foundations for
“Professionalizing and institutionalising the disaster risk reduction” approaches and
frameworks developed through pilot testing and I do believe that in the last 4 Expert
Consultation Workshops you have shared these issues. In the onset of this 5 th Expert
Consultation Workshop of CDMP today, I welcome you everybody on behalf of the
Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.
Dear Professors, Researchers and Trainers,
You know Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to natural hazards and disasters,
which have triggered these days, due to the impact of climate change. We have been
struggling with flood, cyclone, storm surge, landslide, river erosion. It has impact in
our agriculture, food security, infrastructure and almost all spheres of development
initiatives. A major disaster can set back all the development work carried out past.
We have experienced these in Cyclone Sidr, Flood 2007 and Cyclone Aila. Recently we
have experienced about the negative effect of other hazards, like fire at Nimtoli and
Landslides in Chittagong. Building collapse and latent earthquake threat, are
alarming issues for the government of Bangladesh now a days, which need further
attention for preparedness to large scale disaster.
In all hazards identification, prevention, mitigation, risk transfer, preparedness and
emergency response phases, all spheres of disaster management, role of researchers
and academics, role of universities, training institutes and research institutes are
very much important to a nation.
I am very much happy to know that a network on “Disaster Management Education,
Research and Training” has established through CDMP’s technical and financial
support during its first phase, which enabled university professors, researchers and
trainers to work together, share their experiences, finding solution to disasters
impact. All efforts are to enhance the capacities of Bangladesh Disaster Management
System. I am also happy to see the known faces in front of me, representing
university of Dhaka, BUET, University of Rajshahi, Patuakhali Science and Technical
University, Kulna University, Jahangirnagar university and representation from other
major universities, reputable training and research institutes.
I came to know that this group has already developed curriculum for
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1. Bachelor or Science in Disaster management,
2. Post-Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management,
3. Master of Disaster Management,
4. Master of Science in Disaster Management
Those have been introduced and institutionalized in the Patuakhali Science and
Technology University, in the University of Dhaka and in other major universities.
I was informed that pilot research projects on disaster management issues also
commissioned during CDMP I, through these universities. To incorporate of disaster
risk reduction and climate change in textbook through NCTB and in training course
curricula though reputed training institutes like BARD, RDA, BPATC, NAEM and BCS
admin academy have also made substantial progress.
Further to add that, the host of this consultation workshop, Bangladesh University of
Professional have also come forward on emphasizing disaster management issues by
introducing a 3 credit course on Disaster Management in the of BBA degree
programme.
I acknowledge that this technical expert group made a significant progress on the
national commitment of Hyogo Framework for Action (2005 -2010) and to enhance
our own capacity. On this occasion, I like to take an opportunity to congratulate you
all for the effective achievements.
Dear Experts,
CDMP II has just began its journey, I like to declare that like CDMP I, CDMP II will also
continue to do support to universities, education, research and training institutes,
professional communities and networks. It will support to strengthen “Learning and
Development” initiatives by up-scaling it to national, zonal to community level
through establishing centers at district and community level, through development of
tools and system for e-learning to support government e-governance vision through
education and knowledge transferring. Through the project operational modalities
we like to support you
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To produce and procure international standard but national contextual
resource materials (books, learning materials) to further strengthen the
academic initiatives on disaster management.
To continue the research initiatives on disaster risk reduction and climate
change adaptation taken by the universities and research institutes
To publish journals on disaster risk reduction and climate change
To develop supplementary learning materials.
At the end I like to let you know that our Prime Minister approved ‘Revised version of
the Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) and National Disaster Management Plan
(2010-2015)’. This will ensure effective planning for coordination of disaster risk
reduction and emergency response management at all levels for all hazards. These
showed our government commitment to disaster management and to ensure food
security.
Everybody knows that disaster management is not an individual business rather a
business for all. All your efforts to support our common goals will be greatly
acknowledged. I hope your full support will remain continued to our nation building
process.
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the partners like UNDP, DFID, European
Union, Swedish SIDA, Government of Norway and AusAid to support us in CDMP-II
and also many other areas for developing for disaster resilient environment.
Thanks to the organizers, especially the Bangladesh University of Professional for
inviting me to this learned gathering and all the participants, representing institutes’
Thank you all.
Now I declare open the workshop and wish a complete success of the
workshop.
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