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Online Desk  :  A roundtable discussion titled “Bangladesh at Risk of Earthquakes: What Needs to Be Done” was held at 10am today at the Toffazzal Hossain Manik Mia Auditorium of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event was chaired by Shahjahan Molla (Saju). Engineer Riazul Islam, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK), attended the programme as the chief guest, while Professor Mehdi Ahmed Ansary of the Department of Civil Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) presented the keynote paper.

Speakers at the discussion expressed concern that a major earthquake could cause extensive damage across Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, given the frequency of earthquakes recently recorded in Bangladesh and around the world. Professor Mehdi Ahmed Ansary presented findings from his long-term research on earthquakes, along with recommendations on what should be done in the aftermath of a major earthquake. He said that around 600,000 buildings in Dhaka alone are at risk from earthquakes.

According to Professor Ansary, the increasing frequency of small earthquakes has raised concerns that a major earthquake could eventually strike Bangladesh. The BUET professor also urged RAJUK to take initiatives to make identified vulnerable buildings safe and usable rather than simply demolishing them. As the chief guest, RAJUK Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam urged residents of the capital to follow the country’s building codes and RAJUK’s regulations when constructing buildings. He rejected the perception that all RAJUK officials are corrupt.

«“People often say that RAJUK officials are bad. That is not entirely true. It is also important to understand that if you illegally pay RAJUK officials to obtain illegal facilities and then construct buildings unlawfully, that responsibility cannot simply be placed on RAJUK officials,” he said. He said that since taking charge, he had taken disciplinary action against a number of dishonest officials within RAJUK. The RAJUK chairman also said he takes immediate action whenever he receives allegations of corruption against any RAJUK official or employee, including complaints raised by journalists or other stakeholders.

He said that as long as he remains in office, he would not accept illegal influence or lobbying for unlawful benefits, regardless of how senior or influential the person making the request might be. Speaking about earthquake preparedness, Engineer Riazul Islam said RAJUK had already established a research institute and was working to raise public awareness about earthquake risks. He also called for coordination among RAJUK and other government agencies and emergency service providers to improve the country’s preparedness for a major earthquake. Saleh Uddin, Deputy Director of the Fire Service, said fire safety must be given proper consideration during building construction and urged developers to ensure that buildings are designed and constructed to withstand earthquakes.

Professor Dr Adil Mohammad Khan, Executive Director of the Institute for Planning and Development, said many buildings in Dhaka had already been constructed in an unplanned manner. He urged RAJUK to ensure that all buildings currently under construction, as well as those to be constructed in the future, are designed and built to withstand earthquakes. During the roundtable, Abdur Razzak, Vice President-1 of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), also raised a number of important issues concerning earthquake preparedness and urban safety.

The discussion was attended by Dhaka Reporters Unity General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, RAJUK Superintending Engineer Engineer Ehsan Jamil, Daily Morning Voice Editor Md Ripon Tarafdar Niam, as well as journalists from various print and electronic media outlets.

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