They also recommended comprehensive cyclone preparedness, awareness and training programme about cyclone disaster in the areas, protecting natural resources and building more cyclone shelter centres in the disaster prone areas to combat cyclone disaster.

Chittagong Samity, Dhaka organised the discussion at Jatiya Press Club in the city to mark the devastating cyclone of 1991 that killed about 1.4 lakh people.

The discussion began with recitation from the Holy Qur'an and doa for those who were killed in the devastating cyclone.

Presenting a keynote paper titled 'Experience after the 1991 cyclone and future duties', Prof Ansarul Karim, convener of Chittagong Samity, pointed out some difficulties for disaster management that includes ad hoc and insufficient measures, poor economic growth and poor governance and lack of social consensus and development vision.

He also said though there are 21000 cyclone shelter centres in different coastal areas, these centres could only cover 10 per cent people and the rest 90 per cent people are living at high risk area.

Stressing the need for reconstructing the embankments in the areas on the basis of the hydro-meteorological condition, he proposed increasing cyclone centres coverage for the people of high risk area, cyclone insurance for the victims and introducing stringent punishment for those involved in the forest and environmental offences which also cause natural calamities.

Justice Fazlul Karim said cyclone preparedness is a must and we have to take initiative personally and organisationally to face natural calamities.

"We must take lessons from different accidents of the past so that we can prepare ourselves to avert any colossal loss of lives," he said adding, "We have to create awareness so that we can assist the government as an associate force."

He urged the government and authorities concerned to take necessary measures immediately to combat disaster.

National Professor Nurul Islam recommended introduction of training system about disaster management in the coastal area to meet any situation that may arise following severe storms or surge.

He also proposed providing five life jackets for every house in the areas and building adequate cyclone shelter centres in the hilly areas.

The speakers also said the issue of cyclone management should be included in the school curriculum so that the next generation could have a practical knowledge from their early age.

They also proposed making the disaster signals more communicative so that people of the coastal area can easily understand the disaster signals broadcast on the radio and television.

A few survivors of the 1991 cyclone also shared their experience of the cyclone.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Maj Gen (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury, former minister Engineer LK Siddique, Chittagong Samity President Abu Alam Chowdhury, Samity General Secretary Pearul Islam and Muhammad Badiul Alam also spoke on the occasion.