<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The Fire Service and Civil Defence Week -2022 is being observed in the country through various programme.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the 'Fire Service and Civil Defence Week' today. The inaugural function was held at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Training Complex at Mirpur in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages greeting the Fire Service and Civil Defence officials marking the Fire Service and Civil Defence Week-2022.</div><div><br></div><div>President M Abdul Hamid, in his message, said the role of Fire Service and Civil Defence is very crucial for ensuring security to life of the people during terrible incidents and natural disasters by conducting various activities like extinguishing fire, extending services to injured people and transporting patients in critical conditions.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As a government institution, at first the members of Fire Service and Civil Defence stand by the people putting their lives at risk during different disasters, he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The head of the state paid his deepest respect to the brave personnel of fire service and civil defense who died during fire fighting, disaster response and rescue operations at various times.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Due to its geographical location, Bangladesh is more prone to natural disasters like floods, cyclones, tidal waves, lightning and earthquakes than other regions of the world, Hamid added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Apart from this, due to industrialization and unplanned urbanization, man-made accidents are also increasing in the country, he said, adding that thus, new challenges are emerging in the management of rescue operations in various disasters.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>There is no alternative to equipping the fire service and civil defense with modern equipment and providing better training to its personnel to meet these challenges, he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Abdul Hamid hoped that the weeklong programme will help the fire service workers increase mutual communication with the common people.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the present Awami League (AL) government has taken various realistic steps to increase the capacity of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence aiming at building a safe Bangladesh.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"I announced that I will build at least one fire station in each upazila of the country," the premier said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"As a result, since 2009, we have made a total of 286 new fire stations. Before 2009, there were 204 fire stations in the country,"</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Several more fire stations are expected to be launched soon, she added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She recalled 13 martyred firefighters of the devastating fire at BM Container Depot in Chattogram's Sitakunda.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She said that the government recognized those 13 firefighters as "Agniveer" or fire heroes.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"I seek eternal peace of the departed souls of all the members of the fire service and civil defense who sacrificed their lives to protect the life and property including these 13 brave firemen," she continued.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Alongside increasing the number of fire stations, the government has taken the initiative to establish 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Fire Academy' in Munshiganj district near Dhaka to ensure world-class training facilities for the members of this force, the premier said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Sheikh Hasina hoped that workers of Fire Service and Civil Defence would perform their duties with enthusiasm, courage, skills, honesty and sincerity.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Fire Service and Civil Defence would help build 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the premier expected.</div><div><br></div><div>Both the president and the premier wished success to all programmes organized on the occasion of Fire Service and Civil Defence week. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>