Staff Correspondent

To enhance capacity in responding to major natural and man-made disasters, including earthquakes, the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate has formed a specialised rescue team. As part of this initiative, a special training course for 50 firefighters and rescue personnel has been launched.

According to a press release, the training course was inaugurated on Saturday  at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Multipurpose Training Ground in Purbachal, Narayanganj, by the Director General of the Directorate, Brigadier General Mohammad Zahid Kamal, NDC, AFWC, PSC.

Also present at the event were the Directorate's Director (Training, Planning and Development) Lt. Colonel M A Azad Anwar, PSC; Principal of the Fire Service Training Complex Md. Ohidul Islam; Deputy Director (Operations and Maintenance) Md. Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan; and Deputy Director of Dhaka Division Md. Saleh Uddin.

The training has been organised with the goal of forming a team capable of delivering swift and effective responses during disasters. It will run from April 20 to May 1. Participants will be professionally trained to conduct search and rescue operations during large-scale disasters, such as earthquakes. In addition, essential rescue equipment will be stored at the Purbachal facility.

In his inaugural speech, the Director General stated,“We are decentralising manpower and rescue equipment so that during a major earthquake, operations can continue from different locations without all activities being disrupted in the capital. This specially trained team will play a vital role in post-disaster response.”

He further noted that similar training programmes will be organised in phases for more personnel in the future.

Officials consider this initiative timely, particularly in light of the recent devastating earthquake in Myanmar. Experts warn that Bangladesh, being located in an earthquake-prone zone, may also experience a major quake at any time.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate has already been implementing various awareness programmes, including volunteer training, public engagement, mock drills, surveys, and inspections. This new training initiative is seen as a significant and effective addition to those ongoing efforts.