The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence has convened a high-level seminar with leading engineers, architects and disaster specialists to identify urgent measures needed to improve Bangladesh’s earthquake preparedness, fire safety and overall disaster-response capacity.
The seminar of the departments’s newly formed Permanent Expert Panel was held on Wednesday at the fire service headquarters in Dhaka, running from 3pm to 8pm.
According to the fire service Media Cell, the programme was inaugurated by Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal, who said the panel would help guide the modernisation of Bangladesh’s disaster-management system.
Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury presented the keynote paper highlighting current capabilities and priority challenges.
Experts at the seminar warned that Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation, the rise of high-risk buildings, unplanned industrial growth and poorly managed chemical storage were increasing vulnerability to major disasters. They noted that compared to several Asian countries, the Fire Service still has insufficient stations and manpower, particularly in high-risk zones.
Recommendations included expanding fire service coverage in “gap areas”, making all existing fire stations earthquake-resilient, and installing fire-brigade-compatible connections at every WASA pump station to ensure emergency water access. Several speakers said that in areas where new land is unavailable, the ground and first two floors of government buildings could be used to establish additional fire stations.
The panel also recommended increasing the number of trained volunteers, organising regular refresher courses, conducting nationwide multi-agency mock drills on post-earthquake response, and accelerating establishment of a dedicated Fire Academy.
They called for stronger media involvement in awareness campaigns, disaster-preparedness lessons in school curricula with grading, and immediate relocation of chemical warehouses from residential neighbourhoods.
Participants further urged continued nationwide drills and training to strengthen coordination among all agencies involved in emergency response.
Among those speaking at the seminar were KUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Maksud Helali, Dhaka University Professor Dr Md Zillur Rahman, former fire service chiefs Brigadier General Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah (Retd) and Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan (Retd), architect Iqbal Habib and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety Awareness Foundation, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Dhaka University.
Senior fire service officials attended the seminar in person, while all divisional deputy directors and district-level officers joined online.
Participants agreed that the Permanent Expert Panel would continue to meet regularly to provide policy guidance, technical advice and research inputs.
Closing the session, the director general thanked the experts and said the panel would play “a vital role in advancing disaster management to a modern, scientific level”.
