Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya today said all buildings those are vulnerable to jolt will be demolished gradually.

"We have already identified all vulnerable buildings in old part of the capital and hung signboard, written in red colour - vulnerable building, living with your own risk. We will demolish these buildings," he said this when inaugurated a workshop in the capital.

The minister said the government will also identify all vulnerable buildings in divisional cities and mark with red colour. All vulnerable buildings will be demolished gradually.

"RAJUK and city corporations have already received directives in this regard," he said.

The workshop titled "Disaster Recovery Planning" was jointly organized by Disaster Management and Relief, International Recovery Platform (IRP), Japan, Institute of Strategic Recovery Studies for Disaster Resilience and Research and UNDP at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

Maya said the government has taken initiative to form "National Emergency Operation Center". It will act as the high command regarding disaster management and directives will be given from the center during any natural disaster.

The minister said the government is working on formulating another national plan on disaster preparedness and management for 2016-20.

Considering that Bangladesh is under high risk of earthquake, the government is building urban volunteers and procuring rescue gears worth Taka 159 crore.

The minister said a chapter on earthquake will be incorporated at text books from primary to all levels of the education system so that the students can take their own preparedness on earthquake.

Maya said a teacher will give a 5-minitue speech about earthquake preparedness everyday during the assembly of school. "We will train at least one teacher from each school on tremor awareness and preparedness," he said.

Presided over by additional secretary of disaster management and relief ministry Satya Brata Saha, the inaugural session was also spoke by Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defense Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan, Chairman of Disaster Science and Management of Dhaka University Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, UNDP country director Pauline Tamesis and IRP co-chairman Stefan Kohler, among others.

BSS/NS