Ashashuni (Satkhira) Correspondent

A meeting of the Ashashuni Upazila Disaster Management Committee was held on Thursday atUpazila Parishad Conference Room.

The meeting was organized under the Inclusive Community Resilience to Disaster and Climate Vulnerabilities (ICRDCV-II) project, implemented by the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) with support from Muslim Aid UK Bangladesh Field Office, in collaboration with the Upazila Disaster Management Committee.

Ashashuni UNO and Chairman of the Upazila Disaster Management Committee, Shyamananda Kundu, presided over the meeting.

Upazila PIO and Member Secretary of the Upazila Disaster Management Committee Amrul Islam conducted the meeting.Discussions focused on pre-disaster preparedness, risk reduction, early warning dissemination,shelter management, emergency response, humanitarian assistance, and coordination among government and non-government organizations.Among others, social worker and veteran politician S. M. Hedayetul Islam, Upazila Social Services Officer Md. Rafiqul Islam, Cooperative Officer Ashraf Ali, Food Controller Sanjoy Kumar Roy, Women’s Affairs Officer Saidul Islam, and representatives from the Department of Agricultural Extension, Livestock Services, Fisheries Department, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Youth Development Department, Local Government Engineering Department, primary and secondary education authorities, Ashashuni Police Station and various government offices attended the meeting.Chairpersons and representatives from Pratapnagar, Anulia, Sreeula and Ashashuni Sadar Union Parishads, journalists, leaders of social organizations, and representatives of BRAC, IDEAL, BARSIC, Rupantar and ESDO, among other development organizations, also participated.

Representatives of different government departments briefed the meeting on the progress of their respective preparedness measures and ongoing activities.

The Upazila PIO said, a total of 110 disaster shelters are currently ready in Ashashuni, with a combined capacity of approximately 80,000 people. The shelters were monitored last month and kept ready to provide services during any potential disaster. He further said that 200 metric tons of food have currently been allocated for emergency assistance, with preparations also in place to secure additional food supplies if necessary. Disaster preparedness drills and other preparatory activities are also continuing with the cooperation of ESDO and various government and non-government organizations.The meeting placed special emphasis on the urgent repair of vulnerable embankments under the Water Development Board and on ensuring the safety of people, livelihoods and property during disasters.

Chairman of the Upazila Disaster Management Committee directed the concerned departments to take necessary measures promptly.According to the Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD), effective risk identification, dissemination of early warnings, ensuring disaster shelters and safe drinking water, emergency rescue and humanitarian assistance, and coordinated action among relevant agencies are among the key responsibilities of the Upazila Disaster Management Committee.During the meeting, ESDO ICRDCV-II Project Manager Md. Shamsul Haque Mridha presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining ongoing activities to reduce disaster risks and strengthen community resilience in 27 wards of Pratapnagar, Sreeula and Ashashuni Sadar unions. The meeting emphasized strengthening coordination among government departments, local government institutions, NGOs, social organizations and community-level stakeholders. Participants also stressed the importance of regularly reviewing disaster-risk reduction activities, identifying vulnerable communities and areas, ensuring early preparedness, managing shelters effectively and strengthening emergency response mechanism.

A total of 45 representatives from government and non-government organizations, local government institutions, NGOs and social organizations participated in the meeting.