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বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Monday | 10 August 2026, 26 Srabon 1433

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Fire service holds stakeholder meeting to prepare for earthquake response

Published : Monday, 10 August, 2026 at 9:11 PM

Observer Correspondent

File Photo

Fire Service and Civil Defence, Dhaka Division, held a preparatory meeting with government and private stakeholders on Monday to strengthen coordinated firefighting and rescue operations following a major earthquake.

The meeting was held at the conference room of the Fire Service Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Mirpur, with owners and representatives of organisations possessing heavy rescue equipment, including cranes and excavators, from Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Narsingdi.

The meeting was organised under the direction of Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Zahid Kamal, NDC, AFWC, PSC, considering Dhaka’s high vulnerability to earthquakes.

Director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate Lt Col Md Mahmudul Hasan, PSC, attended the meeting as the chief guest.

The programme began at 11am with Quran recitation. Following an introduction session, Deputy Director (Operations and Maintenance) Md Mamunur Rashid delivered the welcome address, followed by a speech from the chief guest.

Lt Col Mahmudul Hasan instructed all zone commanders and district officers of the Fire Service in the six districts to strengthen coordination and communication with relevant stakeholders. He also emphasised developing plans and arranging training for firefighting and rescue operations following a major earthquake.

During the open discussion, representatives of participating government and private organisations shared their views and expressed their willingness to assist the Fire Service in rescue operations during a national disaster.

Md Afzal Hossain, president of the Heavy Equipment Association Bangladesh, said the association would work jointly with the Fire Service in rescue operations. He also proposed forming an “Emergency Equipment Support Team” comprising heavy equipment owners and businesses.

Representatives from the Public Works Department, Dhaka North City Corporation, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations, Roads and Highways Department, NDE, Abul Momen Group, Max Group, Bashundhara Group, Akij Ispat and Maxim Group, along with various contractors and equipment owners, also took part in the discussion. Around 70 owners and representatives attended the meeting.

In his closing remarks, Deputy Director of Fire Service, Dhaka Division, Md Saleh Uddin, presented photographs of the Rana Plaza building collapse and recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Myanmar through a PowerPoint presentation. He called on all stakeholders to work together in rescue operations during major disasters.

He also directed the stakeholders to strengthen coordination and communication and organise training and drills after forming the proposed 'Emergency Equipment Support Team'.

Assistant Director Kazi Nazmuzzaman, PFM, Assistant Director (Operations) AKM Shamsuzzoha, and zone heads and district officers of the Fire Service in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Narsingdi were also present at the meeting.

- Fire Service Media Cell

-HIS

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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