Seminar Held at RAJUK to Enhance Public Awareness on Building-Related Disaster Risk Reduction
A day-long seminar titled “Enhancing Public Awareness for Mitigating Building-Related Disaster Risks (Earthquake & Fire)” was organized by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) as part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted project “Improvement of Design and Construction Quality for Resilience of Private Buildings (DCQR).” The seminar was presided over by RAJUK Chairman Engr. Md. Riazul Islam in the capital on Tuesday.
Honorable Adviser of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, attended the event as the chief guest, while the Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Md. Nazrul Islam, was present as the special guest. During the seminar, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the DCQR project was signed between RAJUK and the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate.
In his welcome remarks, RAJUK Member (Development Control) and Project Director of DCQR, Mr. Mohammad Bashirul Haque, emphasized the need for collective efforts to ensure safe building construction in the city.
Addressing the seminar, the chief guest Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan said,
“Along with implementing existing laws, we must enhance the capacity of design professionals and encourage disaster-resilient building designs. A modern and transparent monitoring system is essential for ensuring quality control during construction.”
In his presidential speech, RAJUK Chairman Engr. Md. Riazul Islam stated,
“Dhaka is a seismic-prone city, and recent fire incidents have repeatedly reminded us that there can be no compromise on safety and structural stability. Along with effective implementation of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), it is crucial to strengthen enforcement, adopt modern technologies, and ensure active participation from all stakeholders.”
He also proposed establishing an “Urban Reduction Disaster Lab” under RAJUK and relevant organizations to conduct research, training, and technological development on building design, disaster prevention systems, and construction quality.
DCQR Team Leader Dr. Tatsu Narafu presented the keynote paper, while RAJUK Director (Development Control) Mr. Monirul Haque provided an overview of the DCQR project. Professor Dr. Rakib Ahsan of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) delivered a presentation on earthquake and fire risk reduction, and Japan Chief Mr. Tomohide Uchiguchi shared the project roadmap.
Government and private sector representatives, journalists, and RAJUK officials attended the seminar. The event concluded with a participatory discussion, where attendees committed to working collectively to enhance public awareness and reduce disaster risks.
