Effective disaster recovery planning requires collaborative efforts from public and private sectors, development partners, academics, and experts. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the  Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) organised a workshop on Disaster Recovery Planning at a Dhaka hotel on 03 December 2019, to explore challenges and gaps in the recovery mechanism through discussion among stakeholders.

In his inauguration remarks, UNDP Bangladesh Assistant Resident Representative Khurshid Alam said, “On an average, we have 2.2% economic loss in yearly GDP due to natural disaster.”

“We need to innovate and find smart solutions for recovery which requires a strong private-public partnership. Poor recovery increases poverty, slowing down the process of achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” he said, “Redefining disaster recovery to truly ‘build back better’ is essential to reach the SDGs by 2030.”

Citing examples of disaster risk reduction and management from around the world, keynote speaker Dr A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, Dean, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Dhaka highlighted the need for proper recovery and rehabilitation after a disaster. "We must address the emotional trauma caused by natural disasters, and focus on rehabilitation at local and national levels. We have to assess the damage at macro levels, and formulate recovery plans accordingly," he said.

Reiterating Bangladesh's role model status in disaster management, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, Dr Md Enamur Rahman said, "We still need better preparedness across every district, at every level. The role and engagement of the private sector is essential for this. Collaborative efforts between public and private sectors along with development partners are needed throughout the way."

The workshop's chairperson, Md Shah Kamal, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, emphasised on the need for research and collaboration to effectively mitigate natural disasters. "When formulating plans, we must consider the needs of everyone to ensure that no one is left behind," he said.

Akram Hossain, Additional Secretary of MoDMR; Shakeb Nabi, Country Representative, ICCO; Nayeem Wahra, Disaster Management Expert; Naoki Matsumura, Country Programme Coordinator (Disaster Risk Reduction), JICA; Umme Kulsum Navera, Professor of Water Resources Engineering, BUET; Dr Khursid Alam, Executive Director, CODEC; Shah I Mobin Jinnah, Executive Director, Community Development Association, and Francis Atul Sarker, Executive Director, Caritas, also spoke at the event.