Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Sa Ching Prue has called for greater public awareness and stronger disaster preparedness in hilly areas, warning that early alerts alone cannot protect people from heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides.

“Warnings must reach people in remote areas on time and in simple language,” he said at the national launch of the SURAKKHA project at a hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, according to BSS.

The minister urged Save the Children, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and other organisations to continue their development work in the hill regions without damaging the environment.

He stressed the need for environmentally friendly infrastructure, afforestation and development plans that consider both the experience of local communities and the natural resilience of the hills.

Prue also called for urgent measures to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for disadvantaged people living in remote hill areas.

Highlighting concerns over drug abuse and excessive social media use among young people, he said adolescents should be encouraged to take part in sports rather than spend too much time on smartphones and online games.

He said new playgrounds were being developed in every upazila under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, adding that sports facilities had been neglected in the past.

Department of Disaster Management Director General Razwanur Rahman, NGO Affairs Bureau Director General Dr Mohammed Jakaria and Save the Children Bangladesh Country Director Shumon Sengupta attended the event as special guests. Department of Disaster Management Director (MIM) Netai Chandra Dey Sarker chaired the programme.

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