BD-US exercise for disaster response begins in Dhaka

Bangladesh Armed Forces and US Army Pacific began a three-day disaster response exercise on search and rescue operations after earthquake at Army Golf Club in the city on Tuesday.

The theme of the exercise titled "Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE)" is Resilience through Preparedness, said an ISPR press release.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman inaugurated the exercise as the chief guest.

Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohsin, and US Army Pacific's Major General Reginald GA Neal were present at the inaugural function, among others.

More than 300 participants from 147 institutions of 23 countries across the world are taking part in the exercise DREE Bangladesh 2021.

The exercise will give an overall idea on international method of managing disasters, including earthquake, increasing coordination among stakeholders to ensure concerted effort to tackle disasters, searching and rescuing operations to prevent earthquake and finalising a disaster management guideline on the basis of communication system, medical and shelter facilities and relief activities.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the AFD and the US Army Pacific have been jointly organising the exercise in Dhaka since 2010.