He also recommended a number of measures including introduction of disaster insurance, standardisation of building construction, and survey of existing buildings to enunciate a national policy to face earthquake disaster.

The BDRCS chairman was delivering a lecture on "Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Management: Bangladesh Perspective" under 'Eminent Persons Lecture Series' at the auditorium of Bangladesh Institute for International Strategic Studies (BIISS).

Jointly organised by BDRCS and BIISS, the function was attended by Disaster Management and Relief Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf as chief guest while Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS, Ambassador Mufleh R Osmany presided.

Director General of BIISS Major General Md Abdul Mubeen made the introductory remarks.

The function was followed by a lively question and answer session which was participated by high civil and military officials as well as experts and academicians.

The speakers observed that political commitment, good governance and accountability were essential to combat both natural and man made disasters.

Because of geographical location, Bangladesh falls under the grip of various natural calamities, they said adding that at the same time man made disasters were also making people's lives miserable everyday.

Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf said the government in cooperation with its development partners and NGOs has taken effective steps to combat disasters and their aftermath.

Bangladesh is now a model for disaster management as it had very successfully evolved an effective facilitating mechanism to combat calamity and its aftermath, he added.