PM for giving fire, civil defence training to people from student life

DHAKA, Nov 18, 2012 (BSS)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today laid importance on creating awareness among people from school life by strengthening the fire and civil defence services to get preparation for combating fire, natural disasters and civil defence.

"Fire Service and Civil Defence Services is one the key areas which is needed to make as an efficient and strong organization to build a safe and secured Bangladesh considering our vulnerability to disasters," she said.

The government has undertaken a master plan to create an urban community volunteers group of 62,000 personnel, mostly school and college students, to help the fire fighters and rescue and relief operations during disasters, she said while inaugurating the Fire Service and Civil Defence Week- 2012 today.

The prime minister underscored the need for grooming up a person from school life with necessary training to handle fire incidents, natural disasters and learn techniques of self-defence.

Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Post and Telecommunications Minister Sahara Khatun, Food Minister Dr Abdur Razzak, State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku were present on the occasion held at the ground of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence at Mirpur.

Chiefs of three services, diplomats of different countries and representatives of different international agencies also attended the function.

Appreciating the services of fire service personnel for the cause of mankind, the prime minister said common people consider the fire service and civil defense as their friend of needs as the personnel have earned confidence of people.

"I confidently believe that the areas of getting public services by common people will be broadened if we can moderanize the fire service and civil defense service and make it time-befitting", she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the present government since taking office in 2009, has taken many pragmatic steps for enriching the fire service and civil defence department to make it as internationally standard one through procurement of necessary equipment.

In the first session of the 9th Jatiya Sangsad, she said, the government has decided to establish fire station in every upazila. In the initial stage, 25 stations were constructed and in the second phase, approval was given to construct 156 stations, she said.

The prime minister said five modern high scale ladders, two rescue speedboats, three fire floats were purchased from abroad while modern fire extinguishing apparatus are being procured from Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory.

Immediately after Nimtali fire disaster in 2010, the government has taken steps for procurement of five chemical tenders to douse the fire from inflammable substances, she said. "Besides, steps were taken to shift the chemical godowns from Dhaka City to a place near Keraniganj BCIC industrial town," she added.

The prime minister said her government is also actively considering to enhance the benefits and allowances for fire service personnel. Risk allowances were introduced for the fire fighters of operational workers of all level were brought under rationing system.

She said fire fighters were given two-coloured uniform and substantial number of world-class fire suite were distributed among them.

The number of awards for the courageous services of the fire fighters has been raised to 50 along with enhancing the honorarium to Taka one lakh, 75,000 and 50,000 respectively from only Taka 10,000 and Taka 5,000.

Sheikh Hasina said the process is underway to turn the fire service and civil defence training complex to an academy.

Earlier, the prime minister witnessed an attractive mock exercise of the fire fighters and display of the apparatus recently procured for the department.

Later, the prime minister inaugurated the newly constructed fire service stations at Charghat of Rajshahi and Khaksa of Kushtia districts.

The prime minister placed wreaths at the memorial plaque constructed on the premises of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence in memory of the martyrs of War of Liberation.