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Experts at a event in Dhaka have deplored that the information technology is not being utilised adequately to rein in the incidence of covid-19 in the country.
They opined that combined and coordinated efforts from the government and the non-government organisations using geographical and social data could still help meet the challenges ahead.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman , who was the chief guest at the event felt that people should learn to live with multi-dimensional disasters such as pandemic, cyclones and floods.
The country that had taken the brunt of cyclone Amphan a couple of months back is hit hard by the covid-19 pandemic and floods, he said.
The event, a virtual dialogue titled Cascading Impacts of Covid-19, Cyclone Amphan and Floods in Bangladesh: Now and Beyond', was organised by the Bangladesh Society of Geo-Informatics (BSGI).
The theme of the dialogue was the use of geospatial technology to serve as a disaster management tool for the decision and policymakers, disaster managers, humanitarian workers, and rehabilitation planers in such devastating events.
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) secretary Mohammad Mohsin and ex-senior secretary of MoDMR Shah Kamal were special guests.
Professor Dr ASM Maqsud Kamal, president of the BSGI, who is also pro-vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, chaired the function while Planner Fazle Reza Sumon, general secretary of the BSGI, moderated the session.
BSGI vice-president Mohammad Abdul Hadi delivered the keynote paper at the session.
Speakers at the discussion underscored the need for undertaking robust management approach, sustainable rehabilitation plan and effective adaptation measures to combat the global outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
The global outbreak of the coronavirus is affecting people's socio-economic status in many ways and their physical and mental-health is under pressure as well due to the lockdown, they observed.
It is a massive challenge for Bangladesh to deal with the adverse impacts of Covid-19, upon it being one of the most-densely populated countries of the world and a big chunk of its population living below the poverty line, they viewed.
On the other hand, life in the coastal areas including the southern region has been wrecked by super cyclone Amphan.
However, sustainable rehabilitation planning and effective action could be possible using geo-informatics to deal with the changed socio-economic and spatial planning, they noted.
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Dr Sadeka Halim, Professor of the Institute of Statistical Research & Training Dr Hasinur Rahman and Professor of Microbiology from University of Dhaka Dr Mizanur Rahman, among others, spoke on the occasion.