Defence adviser for building safer Bangladesh through accurate weather forecasting

Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam on Sunday called for building a safer Bangladesh through accurate weather forecasting as he visited the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

“Accurate weather forecasting is not merely a scientific service;  it is a vital foundation for protecting lives, ensuring agricultural production, facilitating safe navigation on rivers and at sea, strengthening food security and safeguarding the national economy,” he said.

During his visit to the department's headquarters at Agargaon on Sunday morning, the defence adviser was apprised of the country's weather observation and forecasting systems, cyclone and heavy rainfall warning services, and the dissemination of emergency weather information to the public, said a press release.

He underscored the need for delivering weather warnings to people in remote areas timely through using simple, reliable and easily understandable language.

Urging officials and employees of the BMD to perform their duties with dedication for the safety and wellbeing of the people, Islam said a concerted effort is needed to ensure the planning, training and technological support required to elevate Bangladesh's weather services to international standards.

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Senior officials of the department apprised him of the various stages of forecast preparation, the use of modern technologies and methods of collecting meteorological data from the field level.

The defence adviser said climate change is increasing the risks of cyclones, excessive rainfall, lightning strikes, heatwaves and flash floods.

He also underscored the need for transforming the Meteorological Department into a more modern, technology-driven and people-friendly institution.

The defence adviser also called for effective initiatives to improve forecast quality and ensure that ordinary people can easily understand the meaning and implications of weather warnings.

Islam directed the authorities to explore the expansion of modern weather monitoring systems, seismic observation equipment and mobile-based warning services.

He also emphasised stronger coordination among disaster management agencies, local administrations, media organisations and telecommunication service providers.

During the visit, he toured the Storm Warning Centre, Forecasting Division, Agrometeorology Division, Climate Division, Seismological Observatory, workshop and research laboratory, and exchanged views with meteorologists, engineers and other officials.

Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO), Director of the Meteorological Department and other concerned officials were present there.