The presentation discusses the role of the Bangladesh Army in disaster response. It outlines the goals, objectives, and activities of the Army's emergency response, which aims to save lives within the first 72 hours by conducting search and rescue operations, providing medical assistance, managing fatalities, restoring infrastructure, and ensuring shelter and security for displaced people. The presentation also highlights some of the Army's recent response efforts, such as those during the Rana Plaza collapse and 2007 Chittagong mudslides. It emphasizes the importance of cooperation between civil and military authorities for an effective disaster response.

1. Presented by
Masuda Mahbub Toma (13)
Taslima Akter (02)
Nahin Mahfuz Seam (09)
Dhaka School of Economics,
University of Dhaka
PRESENTATION ON DISASTER RESPONSE
ROLE OF BANGLADESH ARMY

2. What is disaster response???
Aggregate of decisions and measures taken to mitigate the effects
of a disastrous event to prevent any further loss of life and
property, restore order in its immediate aftermath, and reestablish
normality through reconstruction and rehabilitation shortly
thereafter. The first and immediate response is called emergency
response

3. Operational Response Priorities
Priority actions for each cluster by time frame:
Priority actions at the initial response phase (first 4, 8 and 12 hours).
Priority actions at the intermediate response phase (through 24, 48
and 72 hours).
Priority actions at the initial recovery phase (after 72 hours but before
end of the first week).
Sustained response operation – as 72 hours is over,
the EOC should be supporting:
• - ongoing search and rescue operation
• - transitioning rear-complete response efforts
• - preparing for major recovery efforts
(3)

4. Goals, Objectives and Scope of
Emergency Response of Bangladesh army
• The primary response goal is to save maximum number of
lives in case of an earthquake and stabilize the event within
first 72 hours. The priority objectives are:
 Delivering immediate search, rescue and evacuate people to
safe locations.
 Providing immediate medical assistance and life-saving
medical services to the victims.
 Providing fatality management services and returning
deceased, to their relatives.
 Stabilizing or eliminating damaged buildings and
infrastructures to minimize health and safety threats
 Restoring the essential infrastructures to functional condition.
 Ensuring temporary shelters, including provision of adequate
food, water and sanitation facilities to the displaced population.
 Providing safety and security and maintaining law and order.
(4)

5. Emergency Response Activities of
Bangladesh army
• List of possible response activities :
 - Rapid damage assessment
 - Crisis decision making
 - Search, rescue and evacuation
 - Request for external assistance for search and rescue
 - Emergency Medical Services
 - Emergency communications
 - Fire-fighting
 - Emergency restoration of utility services
 - Building inspection and demolition/ restoration
 - Inspection of roads, bridges, overpass, dams, reservoirs, etc.
 - Protection of lives and property
 - Maintain the law and order situation
 - Public Information announcements and warnings
 - Clearance of evacuation routes and debris removal
(5)

6. Action Strategies
• Functional Response Cluster System:
• Command and Coordination
• Search, Rescue and Evacuation
• Healthcare Services
• Logistics Support & Relief Services (Food, Nutrition,
Relief)
• Shelter (Including camp management)
• Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
• Transportation (Road, Rail, Air and Sea)
• Security and Welfare
• Immediate Recovery (Restoration of Urban
Services)
(6)

7. Recent response activities of
Bangladesh army at the time of
Disaster
Rana plaza
• Bangladesh Army was starting work
there from the first day till the last day.
• They use some heavy equipment at
the time of rescue operation.
• It was one of the biggest response
activities for them.
• Bangladesh army rejected foreign
assistance over Rana Plaza collapse.
(7)

8. 2007 Chittagong mudslides
• The search and rescue
operation by the Bangladesh
army
• About 1000 solider worked at
the time of disaster.
Bangladesh army and US army to
participate in Disaster Response
Exercise
The exercise was review and
evaluate Dhaka City earthquake
response plans, practice
logistical and medical
emergency scenarios, and
identify current gaps in plans
and procedures.
(8)

9. Conclusion
Response is one of the important elements of the disaster cycle
The success of army measures in aid of Civil Power depends upon
the co‐operation between the civil and military authorities.
Successful co‐operation
is only achieved when there is mutual confidence and
understanding. Therefore it is important that in peace time, the
officers of Civil service and the officers of Army should know each ot
her and have knowledge of each other's duties.

10. REFERENCE
http://www.afd.gov.bd/index.php/activities/armed-forces-division-in-disaster-
management
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/envirnmental-sciences/roles-of-armed-forces-in-
disaster-management-environmental-sciences-essay.php?utm_expid=309629-
2.KXZ6CCs5RRCgVDyVYVWeng.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2F7AAB0CC77BAF7FC12572FA
0044B74D-Full_Report.pdf
http://bangladeshpolitico.blogspot.com/2013/10/bangladesh-army-rejected-foreign.html

11. Thank you