DHAKA: Speakers at a meet Wednesday urged government to go for creating a special fund for the local-government bodies to get quick response in facing any future disaster.

The demand came from a workshop titled ‘Disaster Management Law, Policy and Work Plan’ at the LGED Auditorium.

Rupantar, a non-governmental organization, in association with Improving Local Governance Program and USAID organised the programme.

“We don’t have any fund for chasing natural disaster. So it takes much time to repair dams promptly by government agencies, including LGED, Water Development board,” Advocate Sohrab Ali Sana MP from Khulna said on the occasion.

The lawmaker from the disaster-prone coastal area urged the government to create a special fund through Union Parishad and Upazila Parishad as well as Members of Parliament.

Sohrab Ali Sana blamed government agencies concerned for taking time in repairing dams and roads after a disaster. “But, for the lack of quick response to natural disaster, the periphery of damages increase,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Narayan Chandra Chanda, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Disaster Management Ministry, said, “We would suggest government as per the recommendation for creating special fund to combat natural disaster.”

He said they are amending the disaster-management law.

“The government has taken initiative to amend the regulations of Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) and it will be made public within this year,” Narayan Chandra said while addressing the meet as the chief guest.

Among others, Dennis Sharma, Acting Mission Director, USAID Bangladesh, Nani Gopal Mondal MP and Nazrul Islam Manju MP attended the workshop.

BDST: 1915 HRS. June 23, 2010
AKR/SMS/MUA