1. Bangladesh Army is serving to the nation with highest professionalism and sincere dedication since independence.Besides ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, Bangladesh Army have significantly contributed to the nation building activities, disaster management and humanitarian works. Its spiritual and volunteer footprints in multidimensional sectors are well recognised by the community and across the globe. Bangladesh is recognised as one of the best troops contributing country in the United Nations peace keeping missions. The contributions and relentless efforts by the members of Bangladesh Army in the recent disaster response (Flood 2024) is identical and reflects the aspirations of the nation.
2. Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries. Due to its flat geographical structures, high population density and low-lyingland combined with climate change factors, is highly vulnerable to natural hazards.According to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh was ranked as the seventh most disaster affected country in the world from 2000 to 2019. The country has gone through several natural and man-made disasters in the last few decades.Bangladesh Army played a significant role in providing immediate assistance, relief distributions, collaborating with civilian authorities and other agencies to minimize the effects of disasters of the affected communities."In War and Peace, we are Everywhere for the Country", emblematizes that Bangladesh Army is well prepared to face any future disaster challenges for safeguarding the nation in the time of crisis.
3. The term 'Disaster' originated from the French word 'Desastre' which means bad or evil star. A Disaster happens when any hazard disrupts the functioning of the society and seriously affects human life, livelihoods, property and environment.The losses encompass by disaster, the affected community can not handle it alone. Hazards can be classified as natural and man made. Natural hazards very often faced by Bangladesh are floods, cyclone, tidal surge, tsunami, Earthquake and landslide. Bangladesh also encounters man made hazards such as fire and Industrial accident. An epidemic is a massive outbreak and spread of infectious diseaseand historically the most dangerous of all-natural disasters, such as outbreak of COVID-19. This deadly corona virus caused millions of deaths and infected several peoples worldwide. Bangladesh Army always stands besides the distressed peoples and promotes for nation building activities
4. Bangladesh is susceptible to frequent destructive tropical cyclones associated with tidal surge. In the recent years, these cyclones caused loss of life and widespread damage with its violent winds, flooding and storm surge.As for example, Cyclone Aila and Sidr. Cyclone Sidr in 2007 caused heavy devastations to the southwest coast of Bangladesh. Heavy wind and floods caused damage to the crops, livelihoods,roads and other infrastructures. This severest cyclone took away thousand of lives and smashed away houses making lots of peoples shelter less. Electricity and communication system were knocked out. Members of Armed Forces were quickly involved to rescue the affected peoples, provided foods, drinking water, Medicare items and arranged for temporary shelters.Bangladesh Army has taken up rehabilitation programs such as reconstruct of the roads and houses, agricultural and other support measures to help the Sidr survivors.
5. Man-made hazards occur regularly in Bangladesh. The collapse of 'Rana Plaza' factory building in 2013 at Savar, was one of the terrible and disastrous incidents in the history of garments industry. More than thousands of workers died and injured many more. The rescue operation was led by Bangladesh Army along with fire service, police, other organizations and volunteers. They have rescued the survivors who had been trapped under tons of rubble and machinery for hours or even days before they could be rescued. Besides, coordinated efforts were taken for debris removal, accountability and handover of dead bodies and security and traffic management around the affected area. A violent fire also erupted in the clothing market of Bangabazar in 2023. It caused destruction of almost all the shops incurring huge loss to the owners. The noble and relentless effortstaken by the members of Bangladesh Army was praised highly by the world community.
6. Bangladesh Army provided a great assistance to the civil administration prevailing the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) has wreaked havoc globally. Bangladesh Government declared 'Lockdown' throughout the nation from 23 March 2020 to counter the spread of the virus. During this pandemic, nation has witnessed a devastating consequence all around. Lots of peoples became workless due to shutdown of factories, garments and other private organisations. Peoples has feared for the insecurity of life in one sense and suffered heavily for supply of foods, medicines and other daily commodities due to lockdown. The Members of Bangladesh Armed Forces deployed throughout the country risking their life and served for the nation. They influenced the people to maintain safety distance and home quarantine measures around the country. First institutional quarantine centre at Ashkona Hajj Camp was organised and maintained by Bangladesh Army. Various teams and patrols of army worked relentlessly for raising mass awareness among the peoples, conducted medical campaigns and distributed reliefs in the various parts of the country. The virtuous efforts and contributions by Bangladesh Army in COVID-19 pandemic speculates the patriotism and foster national bondage.
7. Landslides also emerged as a major hazard due to heavy rainfall specially at the hilly areas. In 2017, widescale landslides occurred in Rangamati, Bandarban, khagrachari and Cox'sbazar district. The whole Chittagong Hill Tracts was out communication and caused severe damages to the roads, houses, crops and infrastructures. The members of the Bangladesh Army deployed quickly and helped the affected peoples in terms of rescuing, medical facilities, shelter and relief distributions works. Bangladesh Army lost some of the bravest souls while conducting this rescue operations and humanitarian works.
8. Floods are common phenomenon in Bangladesh, since it is a riverine country and is situated at the lower most reaches of three great river systems, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna. Floods occurred due to heavy rainfall with added volume of water from the up streams of these rivers. Nation has observedadverse consequences of floods in the year of 1988 and 1998.In August 2024, nation has experienced a devastating effect of floods. Several districts of eastern part of Bangladesh were stricken by flooding, including Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Kharachari, Chattogram, Cox'sbazar, Moulavibazar and Habiganj. This caused of millions of peoples were water logged without food and shelter, significant damage of crops, livelihoods and infrastructures. The members of the Armed Forces deployed swiftly and took effective measures to control the situation. Army conducted rescue operations by helicopter and special engineering boats to rescue the victims trapped under raising water. Troops were mobilized all out to find the distressed peoples and provided food, clothing, drinking water and medicine. In cases, young officers have carried relief items by themselves and rescued distressed peoples in difficult areas to support the humanity. A number of relief camps have been established to facilitate shelter, distribution of food supplies, basic sanitation items and medical facilities. The Bangladesh Army worked very closely with the Government agencies, non-government organisations (NGO's) and civil community to ensure an effective collaboration to mitigate this floods crisis.The solidarity and bravest acts by the members of Bangladesh Army in this challenging scenario once again proved their testament and dedication for the nation.
9. Bangladesh is geographically located in the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt which is considered one of the most seismically active regions globally. Some of the major cities including Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet are at risk of massive destruction by earthquakes from nearby seismic faults. There is still no significant earthquake in Bangladesh. However, any earthquake disaster may impact serious losses due to rapid urbanisation. Bangladesh Armed Forces is regularly organising the largest exercise on earthquake disasters named Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE). Members of The United States Army Pacific, Armed Forces personnel and representatives of all the concerned stakeholder organisations are coordinated together to develop a national contingency plan. The ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) works in the leading role to ensure better functioning between organisations and agencies in the event of Disaster Response.
10. A massive earthquake hit Turkiye in 2023 and caused huge loss of life, destruction of structures and humanitarian disaster. A joint team led by Bangladesh Army carried out post earthquake rescue operations and distributed food items, tents and medical facilities which was highly praised by the Turkish Government. Nepal experienced a devastating earthquake in 2015. Bangladesh extended humanitarian assistance in terms of foods, clothing and other relief items. A medical team of Bangladesh Army provided medical supports to the earthquake victims.
11. Bangladesh Army is playing a pivotal role to restore law and order situation in the country since July 2024. They are actively working for public safety, protection of key point installations, watch over unwanted chaos in the garments sector, recovery of illegal arms and ammunition and maintain of communal harmony. Bangladesh Army exercising executive magistracy powers with trust and hope for the betterment of the nation.The legacy and relentless efforts of Bangladesh Army manifesttheir credible dedications and national unity for a future prosperous Bangladesh.
12. Bangladesh Army is always prepared and ready to react in the events of any national disaster or emergency response. It works closely with other civil stakeholders by maintaining a strong civil-military relationship to stimulate national objectives and progress. Bangladesh Army has taken significant steps to enhance their preparedness and response capabilities for various types of disasters. Its enormous contributions and prompt responses during COVID-19 pandemic and Floods-2024 are of unique examples. In the aftermath of any disaster, Bangladesh Armyis mostly the first responder. The devoted patriotism and benevolent contributionsby its members recognised Bangladesh Army as a role model for strengthening the socio-economic condition of the country and sustainable national development.
The writer is an army officer
