The local counterpart of the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake Resilience Project conducted a one-day Joint Focus Group Workshop focusing on the local institutional activities on earthquake (EQ) preparedness and mitigation last February 13, 2013 at the World Bank Office in Dhaka.
A number of key institutions from the government, non-government and private institutions were brought together to discuss and present their activities relevant to EQ preparedness and mitigation. Representatives from DSCC, Mr. Sirajul Islam, Engr. Abdul Latif Helaly from RAJUK, Mr. Shaheen Ahmed from UDD and Director of DDM, Mr. Dilder Admed shared their current and past undertakings as well as their agencies' role in disaster management in general.
Other presentors were from utility companies such as DWASA and DESCO. They were represented by Mr. Zaki Mostafa and Engr. Zakir Hossain respectively.
Local Investigator Md. Nuruzaman, started the presentation in the morning by discussing the legal and institutional context of disaster management in Dhaka. While Dr. Raquib, the HVRA local expert shared the results of the review of vulnerability assessment report and Risk assessment report of DCC done by CDMP in the afternoon session.
The workshop was chaired by Dr. Mehedi Ansary, Deputy Project Team Leader and Dr. Ishrat Islam, local investigator for the Land Use Planning element of the project. More or less 50 people attended the workshop.
There was a dynamic and productive discussion about the relevant issues emanated from the presentations. The activity in general was a success, it had encouraged/motivated other agencies to also showcase their relevant works in the future workshops
