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In a significant step towards enhancing Bangla-desh's emergency response capabilities, a half-day multi-agency Field Training Exercise (FTX) was conducted on the premises of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) at Purbachal in the city on Monday, says a press release.
This event, organised as part of the Training, Exercises, and Drills (TED) Programme under the Urban Resilience Project (DDM Part), was implemented by URP (DDM Part), in technical collaboration with UNDP Bangladesh, and funded by the World Bank.
The primary objective of the Field Training Exercise (FTX) was to strengthen the capacity of various key agencies involved in emergency response.
A total of 120 officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), and the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) participated in the exercise.
The training focused on the execution of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the Management of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to a hypothetical mega-earthquake scenario.
Md Kamrul Hasan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), was present as the chief guest. Van Nguyen, Resident Representative (a.i), UNDP Bangladesh, and Brigadier General Md. Main Uddin, Director General of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, were present as special guests. Md. Mijanur Rahman, Director General, Department of Disaster Management (DDM), chaired the event. High-ranking officials from MoDMR, DDM, Planning Commission, FSCD, DNCC, DSCC, SCC, UN Agencies, and other organisations also attended the event as observers.
The mock drill served as an invaluable practical experience for all participants, deepening their understanding of field operations towards emergency response management.
Key individuals who played crucial roles in the event's success include Dr. A.T.M. Mahbub-ul Karim, Project Director and Joint Secretary of the Urban Resilience Project (DDM Part), and Arif Abdullah Khan, Team Leader of the TED Programme and Programme Specialist in Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management at UNDP Bangladesh.