A three-day training programme titled “Disaster Preparedness, Business Continuity, and Multi-Hazard Management” has commenced at the Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ), aiming to ensure uninterrupted industrial production and minimise potential losses during natural or man-made disasters.
The initiative is being jointly organised by the Safety Council of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Mongla EPZ authority. Officials and employees from various factories operating within the EPZ are taking part in the capacity-building event.
The inaugural ceremony, held on Monday morning, was formally opened by Kalam Md. Abul Bashar, Executive Director of Mongla EPZ. In his address, Bashar underscored the vital importance of disaster preparedness, stating that timely response and effective planning can significantly reduce industrial damage and safeguard productivity across the manufacturing sector. He commended the FBCCI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience and promote a culture of safety within Bangladesh’s industrial landscape, according to an FBCCI press release.
Delivering the welcome remarks, Waheduzzaman, Additional Executive Director of Mongla EPZ, emphasised the need to enhance factory-level disaster risk management capacity. He noted that such training not only improves participants’ technical understanding but also reinforces institutional readiness to handle emergencies more efficiently.
Md. Manjur Kader Khan, Programme Coordinator of the FBCCI Safety Council, spoke at the event, outlining the goals, key activities, and progress of the initiative. He explained that under the Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP) project—led by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief—FBCCI has been working to strengthen the disaster resilience and awareness of industrial and commercial enterprises nationwide.
Khan expressed optimism that close collaboration between the government and private sector would foster a safer, more sustainable business environment across Bangladesh. He extended gratitude to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its financial assistance and to the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) for its technical support.
Among those present at the opening ceremony were Md. Kawsar Hossain, Director (Administration) of Mongla EPZ, alongside other zone officials and representatives from the FBCCI Safety Council.