Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community for inclusion of the persons with disabilities in the development and disaster risk management process.
"Bangladesh did it...we want all to do that," the prime minister said, highlighting the disaster management plans taken by her government over the years.
She said this while inaugurating the three-day 2nd international conference on Disability and Disaster Risk Management at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital on Tuesday.
"Now Bangladesh has acquired the capacity to cope with any sort of disaster and that's why the country became known as the role model of disaster management," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the conference and recent move of the global community for inclusion of differently able persons in disaster management is very crucial, reports BSS.
Bangladesh is taking lead with the international community to facilitate this important agenda at international, regional, national and local level, she said.
The conference has been designed with the key objectives of sharing knowledge and experience as well as identifying future actions for inclusive implementation of the disability and disaster risk management plans, she added.
Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mofazzal Hosssain Chowdhury Maya presided over the function while secretary of the ministry Shah Kamal gave welcome address.
Monthian Buntan, member of Royal Thai parliament and member of the UN international committee on rights of the persons with disabilities delivered keynote speech.
UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo read out the special appreciation from Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction UNISDR.
Some 110 experts from 33 countries are attending the conference arranged by Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.
She mentioned that the government integrated the risk-informed development approach in the seventh five-year plan, and it National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) to address big disasters.
Some 4,088 storm shelters and 255 flood shelters have been constructed during last the nine and a half years all over the country to reduce disaster risk. Besides construction of 220 storm shelters is going on, she added.
The Prime Minister mentioned that construction of 423 flood shelters and 66 relief godowns is underway.
A video presentation was screened on disability and disaster management in Bangladesh.